title: Management of squamous cell carcinoma of the base of tongue with chemoradiation and brachytherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of base of tongue (BOT) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has traditionally been associated with poor prognosis and significant morbidity. We report a program consisting of concurrent chemoradiation followed by brachytherapy for these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed all patients in our institution with previously untreated BOT SCC (1996-2004) who received this treatment program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 88 patients (median age, 60.2 years; 37 T1/T2; 51 T3/T4), cervical lymph node metastases were present in 71 patients (80.7%). Six patients had residual/subsequent cervical metastases requiring 7 neck dissections. Local recurrence occurred in 16 patients (18.2%) and distant metastases occurred in 9 patients (10.2%). Median follow-up time was 3.1 years (range, 0.5-7.8 years). Three-year overall survival was 80.9% (95% CI: 69.6% to 88.3%). Locoregional control rate was 79.9% and disease-specific survival was 69.5% at 3 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed with brachytherapy is a safe and effective method of treatment of SCC of the BOT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Elmer R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: Stephen Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caylakli
authors.forename: Jonas T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ferris
authors.forename: Ricardo L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Carrau
authors.forename: Carl H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Snyderman
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Gooding
authors.forename: Alfred A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Simenthal
authors.forename: Eugene N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001918:Brachytherapy; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil