title: Brachytherapy in lip carcinoma: long-term results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of low-dose-rate brachytherapy for local control and relapse-free survival in squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas of the lips. We compared two groups: one with tumors on the skin and the other with tumors on the lip.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients had been treated at Claudius Regaud Cancer Centre from 1990 to 2008 for squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma. Low-dose-rate brachytherapy was performed with iridium 192 wires according to the Paris system rules. On average, the dose delivered was 65 Gy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  172 consecutive patients were included in our study; 69 had skin carcinoma (squamous cell or basal cell), and 92 had squamous cell mucosal carcinoma. The average follow-up time was 5.4 years. In the skin cancer group, there were five local recurrences and one lymph node recurrence. In the mucosal cancer group, there were ten local recurrences and five lymph node recurrences. The 8-year relapse-free survival for the entire population was 80%. The 8-year relapse-free survival was 85% for skin carcinoma 75% for mucosal carcinoma, with no significant difference between groups. The functional results were satisfactory for 99% of patients, and the cosmetic results were satisfactory for 92%. Maximal toxicity observed was Grade 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose-rate brachytherapy can be used to treat lip carcinomas at Stages T1 and T2 as the only treatment with excellent results for local control and relapse-free survival. The benefits of brachytherapy are also cosmetic and functional, with 91% of patients having no side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Larrey Hospital, Toulouse, France. mireilleguib@voila.fr
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guibert
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vergez
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rives
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Filleron
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bonnet
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delannes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes