title: Brachytherapy in the treatment of Stage IV carcinoma of the base of tongue.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Survival in patients with Stage IV carcinoma of the base of tongue (BOT) treated by surgery and radiotherapy remains poor. External beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and brachytherapy (BT) have been used as an alternative treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients with Stage IV carcinoma of the BOT were treated by EBRT and BT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Local control is 89%. The 5-year overall (OS) and disease specific survival (DSS) rates are 52% and 67%. No neck node positive patient implanted in the neck developed cervical metastases. Two patients (11%) developed complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Local regional control, survival, and complications in patients with Stage IV carcinoma of the BOT treated by EBRT and BT have been satisfactory. The use of brachytherapy for nodal metastases has eliminated the need for neck dissection. We recommend this approach in the treatment of Stage IV carcinoma of the BOT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. canoe@msx.upmc.edu
authors.forename: Elmer R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: Jonas T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carrau
authors.forename: Sanjiv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agarwala
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flickinger
authors.forename: Mubina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quader
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes