title: External beam irradiation alone or combined with neck dissection for base of tongue carcinoma: an alternative to primary surgery.
abstract: From 1964 to 1990, 134 patients were treated at the University of Florida with continuous-course external beam irradiation, alone or followed by a planned neck dissection, for T1 (n = 17), T2 (n = 47), T3 (n = 49), or T4 (n = 21) carcinoma of the base of tongue. The 5-year rate of local control was 90% for stage T1, 92% for T2, 73% for T3, and 35% for T4. Probability of control above the clavicles at 5 years according to modified American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage was 100% for stages I and II, 75% for stage III, 84% for stage IVa, and 52% for stage IVb. Probability of relapse-free survival at 5 years was 100% for stages I and II, 68% for stage III, 81% for stage IVa, and 37% for stage IVb. Severe complications occurred in 2% of patients. Compared with surgical resection of the primary tumor, external beam radiotherapy results in similar rates of local control and survival with a lower risk of severe complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610-0385.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hinerman
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Mendenhall
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Stringer
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Cassisi
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Million
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome