[Oncologic and functional results of surgical treatment for base of tongue carcinomas].
OBJECTIVE
Squamous cell carcinomas at the base of the tongue are usually diagnosed at advanced stages, and their optimal treatment has not been established. The aim of this study was to describe the functional and oncological outcomes of patients with base of tongue carcinomas treated with surgery.


METHODS
A retrospective study on 132 patients with base of tongue carcinoma surgically treated in our hospital between 1990 and 2007 was carried out. One patient (0.75%) was in stage I, 8 (6%) were in stage II, 15 (11%) in stage III, 91 (69%) in stage IVA, and 17 (13%) with stage IVB. A total of 92 (70%) patients received postoperative radiotherapy.


RESULTS
Eighty-seven patients (66%) had recurrence: 23 patients (17%) had local recurrence, 15 (11%) regional, 20 (15%) locoregional, 16 (12%) locoregional and distant, and 9 (7%) distant metastases. The disease-specific survival was 34% at 5 years (100% for stages I and II, 44% for stage III, 28% for stage IVA and 12% for IVB; p=0.0004). Multivariate analysis showed two variables independently associated with worse survival: lymph node metastases classified as N2-3 (p=0.016) and primary tumours classified as T3-4 (p=0.040). Adequate oral intake was achieved by 96% of the patients and 79% could be decannulated.


CONCLUSIONS
The prognosis of squamous cell carcinomas of the base of the tongue is poor, especially in advanced stages. Surgical treatment provides oncological and functional results similar to other therapeutic modalities.
Díaz Molina
Juan Pablo
JP
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Instituto Universitario de Oncologıía del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, España. chescadoc@yahoo.com
Rodrigo
Juan Pablo
JP
Llorente
José Luis
JL
Alvarez Marcos
César
C
Moreno
Carla
C
Suárez
Carlos
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome