title: Brachytherapy of stage II mobile tongue carcinoma. Prediction of local control and QOL.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is no consensus as to the prognostic model for brachytherapy of tongue carcinoma. This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic factors for local control based on a large population under a unified treatment policy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1970 and 1998, 433 patients with stage II tongue squamous cell carcinoma were treated by low-dose-rate brachytherapy. This series included 277 patients treated with a linear source with a minimum follow-up of 3 years. A spacer was introduced in 1987. The primary local control rates were 85.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the multivariate analysis, an invasive growth pattern was a significant factor for local recurrence. The disease-related survival was influenced by old age and an invasive growth pattern. A spacer lowered mandibular bone complications. The growth pattern was the most important factor for recurrence. Brachytherapy was associated with a high cure rate and the use of spacers brought about good quality of life (QOL).
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Asahi General Hospital, I-1326, Asahi, Chiba, Japan. sayacoral@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Sayako
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oota
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Ryo-ichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome