Long-term survival outcome in transhyoid resection of base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The transhyoid approach for the resection of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the base of the tongue continues to evolve and remains controversial. We previously reported that the functional outcome of this operation is superior to that of the traditional transmandibular approaches.


OBJECTIVE
To report our long-term survival rates for T1, T2, and select T3 SCCs of the base of the tongue using the transhyoid approach.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with SCC of the base of the tongue were treated using a transhyoid approach at the University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center between 1981 and 1998.


RESULTS
All 28 patients underwent simultaneous neck dissection, and 27 patients underwent postoperative radiation therapy. The majority of the patients had advanced stage III or IV SCC. Twenty-five of the 28 patients had clear margins in the final pathologic specimen. The overall 3- and 5-year patient survival rates were 88.5% and 80.0%, respectively. Tumor-specific 5-year survival rates were 80.0%, 84.6%, and 50.0% for T1, T2, and T3 tumors, respectively. Stage-specific 5-year survival rates were 60.0%, 100.0%, and 80.0% for stages II, III, and IV, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The advantages of the transhyoid approach to SCC of the base of the tongue in conjunction with neck dissection and postoperative radiation therapy include excellent long-term patient survival, improved swallowing and speech function, outstanding tumor exposure, and minimal cosmetic deformity.
Azizzadeh
Babak
B
Division of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, 62-132 CHS, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1624, USA.
Enayati
Pedram
P
Chhetri
Dinesh
D
Maghami
Ellie
E
Larian
Babak
B
Blackwell
Keith E
KE
Abemayor
Elliot
E
Calcaterra
Thomas C
TC
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014059:Tongue / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*