title: Early stage carcinoma of oral tongue: prognostic factors for local control and survival.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess prognostic factors, treatment outcomes and patterns of relapse in patients with early stage (T1-2 N0) squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue treated primarily by surgery. The medical records of all patients with early stage (T1-2 N0) oral tongue cancer, radically treated at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center between January 1980 and December 1997, were reviewed. Eighty-five patients were identified for analysis, 38 male and 47 female. With a median follow-up for surviving patients of 64 months, 5-year actuarial overall, disease-specific (DSS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) were 71, 75, and 63%, respectively. Univariate analysis for DSS showed survival advantage for patients with tumor thickness (TT) of < or =10 mm (P=0.0002) and distance from resection margin (DFRM) of > 5 mm (P=0.005). The effect of TT of < or =10 mm was maintained (P=0.001) on multivariate analysis. Higher RFS was observed with TT of < or =10 mm (P=0.0002), DFRM of > 5 mm (P=0.0002) and DFRM of >10 mm (P=0.007). On multivariate analysis higher RFS was also found for TT < or =10 mm (P=0.01) and DFRM >5 mm (P=0.01). Salvage of local tongue recurrence was higher than neck node failure, with 5-year DSS of 71 and 19%, respectively (P=0.007). Time interval for recurrence showed no significant impact on outcome. In T1-2 N0 oral tongue cancer, TT, and DFRM are significant prognostic factors for both local control and survival. Neck node recurrence is associated with poor prognosis and low salvage rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, MBC 34, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, PO Box 3354, 11211, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. nrajhi@kfshrc.edu.sa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Rajhi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Khafaga
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: El-Husseiny
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mourad
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Otieschan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Amro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005927:Glossectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000009:adverse effects; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*