title: Long-term survival outcome in transhyoid resection of base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, 62-132 CHS, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1624, USA.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Azizzadeh
authors.forename: Pedram
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Enayati
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chhetri
authors.forename: Ellie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maghami
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Larian
authors.forename: Keith E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Blackwell
authors.forename: Elliot
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abemayor
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Calcaterra
mesh_terms: 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*