title: Primary surgical therapy for locally limited oral tongue cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of primary surgical treatment in the management of locally limited oral tongue carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective evaluation was carried out for all patients treated with primary surgery for pT1-pT2 oral tongue carcinomas at a tertiary referral center between 1980 and 2005. All cases were assessed for disease-specific survival and local control rates in relation to T classification, N classification, infiltration depth of the primary tumor, and decision making on neck management and adjuvant therapy. The cases were additionally evaluated for the incidence of major complications and tracheotomies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  263 cases were assessed. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 75.2%. Positive neck disease was shown to be a significant negative prognostic factor. The occult metastasis rate was 20.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary surgical treatment is a very effective modality against T1-T2 oral tongue carcinoma, and a low rate of complications can be anticipated.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Waldstraße 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Konstantinos
authors: 0000-0002-4948-8882
authors: K
authors: Mantsopoulos
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Waldstraße 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Georgios
authors: 0000-0002-7805-3714
authors: G
authors: Psychogios
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Waldstraße 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Julian
authors: 0000-0001-9785-1386
authors: J
authors: Künzel
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Waldstraße 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Waldfahrer
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Waldstraße 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Zenk
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Waldstraße 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Heinrich
authors: H
authors: Iro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*