title: [The results of combined treatment (surgery and postoperative radiotherapy) for tongue cancer and prognostic factors].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the results of surgical treatment and postoperative radiotherapy and prognostic factors in patients with primary tongue carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 60 patients (31 males, 29 females; median age 54 years; range 22 to 82 years) who underwent surgery and postoperative radiotherapy for oral tongue cancer. Tumor staging based on the AJCC-1997 criteria was as follows: stage I (n=1), stage II (n=21), stage III (n=12), and stage IVA (n=26). Surgery included hemiglossectomy (n=46, 76%), partial (n=13, 22%) and total (n=1, 2%) glossectomy. Neck dissection was performed in 47 patients (78%). Radiotherapy dose was generally 6000 cGy/30 fr. The median follow-up was 51 months (range 5 to 180 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The five-year overall and relapse-free survival rates were 50% and 47%, respectively. Survival at five years was 70% for stage I-III, and 20% for stage IVA. Most of the relapses occurred in the first two years after treatment. Recurrences were encountered in 31 patients (52%). The median survival after recurrence was eight months (range 1 to 53 months). In multivariate analyses, significant prognostic factors for overall survival and locoregional control were tumor size, stage, N stage, extracapsular lymph node spread, and total duration of radiotherapy. Complications were within acceptable limits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postoperative radiotherapy should be standard for patients with stage III and IVA tongue cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Medicine Faculty of Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. ankaradeniz53@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karadeniz
authors.forename: Mert
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saynak
authors.forename: Züleyha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kadehci
authors.forename: Merdan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fayda
authors.forename: Görkem
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aksu
authors.forename: Hümeyra
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kocaelli
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hafiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology