Brachytherapy in the treatment of Stage IV carcinoma of the base of tongue.
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.
Cano
Elmer R
ER
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. canoe@msx.upmc.edu
Johnson
Jonas T
JT
Carrau
Ricardo
R
Agarwala
Sanjiv
S
Flickinger
John
J
Quader
Mubina
M
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*
D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes