title: Treatment of oral cancers using iridium-192 interstitial irradiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess retrospectively the outcome and morbidity of Iridium-192 brachytherapy in the treatment of oral cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective audit of cases treated between 1981 and 1991.
  
  
  METHODS
  Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
  
  
  METHODS
  73 patients with oral cancer treated with Iridium-192.
  
  
  METHODS
  Local control, crude and cause specific survival, and local morbidity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy four cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity were treated using interstitial Iridium-192. The disease specific 5-year survival rates were 69% for T1, 67% for T2, and 0% for T3 tumours. Mortality from recurrent cancer was 20%, and from intercurrent disease was 28%. The incidence of major radiation induced morbidity was 11%, and the local control rate was 81% for T1, 69% for T2, and 50% for T3 tumours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interstitial radiotherapy remains a viable and valuable mode of treatment for a small proportion of patients presenting with early (T1 and T2) oral cancers.
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Department, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Podd
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Carton
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barrie
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Dawes
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Stassen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Macleod
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Piggot
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes