Management of squamous cell carcinoma of the base of tongue with chemoradiation and brachytherapy.
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.
Cano
Elmer R
ER
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Lai
Stephen Y
SY
Caylakli
Fatma
F
Johnson
Jonas T
JT
Ferris
Robert L
RL
Carrau
Ricardo L
RL
Snyderman
Carl H
CH
Gooding
William E
WE
Simenthal
Alfred A
AA
Myers
Eugene N
EN
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
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil