Total glossectomy without laryngectomy as first-line or salvage therapy.
OBJECTIVE
Advanced carcinoma of the tongue can require total glossectomy. Although radiation therapy is of limited efficacy in T3 and T4 tumors involving the base of the tongue, many surgeons are reluctant to suggest highly mutilating surgery.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
We compared early postoperative complications, hospital stay duration, function, and oncological outcomes in patients who underwent total glossectomy without laryngectomy as first-line or salvage therapy.


RESULTS
Postoperative course and functional outcomes were similar in the two groups. Overall survival was 32% at 3 years and 21% at 5 years. The risk factors for shorter survival were positive margins of resection (P =.002) and tumor spread into the mandible (P =.04). Salvage surgery was not associated with significantly lower survival (P =.09 [NS]).


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative morbidity and functional outcomes are similar after first-line and salvage total glossectomy without laryngectomy. Local tumor control is the main factor influencing survival.
Barry
Béatrix
B
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Bichat Teaching Hospital, Paris, France. beatrix.barry@bch.ap-hop-paris.fr
Baujat
Bertrand
B
Albert
Sébastien
S
Nallet
Emmanuel
E
Depondt
Joël
J
Guedon
Charles
C
Gehanno
Pierre
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005927:Glossectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*