Kulak burun boǧaz ihtisas dergisi : KBB = Journal of ear, nose, and throat, cilt.17, sa.1, ss.1-6, 2007 (Scopus)
OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the results of surgical treatment and postoperative radiotherapy and prognostic factors in patients with primary tongue carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 60 patients (31 males, 29 females; median age 54 years; range 22 to 82 years) who underwent surgery and postoperative radiotherapy for oral tongue cancer. Tumor staging based on the AJCC-1997 criteria was as follows: stage I (n=1), stage II (n=21), stage III (n=12), and stage IVA (n=26). Surgery included hemiglossectomy (n=46, 76%), partial (n=13, 22%) and total (n=1, 2%) glossectomy. Neck dissection was performed in 47 patients (78%). Radiotherapy dose was generally 6000 cGy/30 fr. The median follow-up was 51 months (range 5 to 180 months). RESULTS: The five-year overall and relapse-free survival rates were 50% and 47%, respectively. Survival at five years was 70% for stage I-III, and 20% for stage IVA. Most of the relapses occurred in the first two years after treatment. Recurrences were encountered in 31 patients (52%). The median survival after recurrence was eight months (range 1 to 53 months). In multivariate analyses, significant prognostic factors for overall survival and locoregional control were tumor size, stage, N stage, extracapsular lymph node spread, and total duration of radiotherapy. Complications were within acceptable limits. CONCLUSION: Postoperative radiotherapy should be standard for patients with stage III and IVA tongue cancer.