title: High dose rate brachytherapy in early stage squamous-cell carcinoma of the lip.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the results obtained after treatment of early stage (T1-T2) squamous cell carcinoma of the lip with high dose rate brachytherapy and evaluate the efficacy of this treatment in both local and regional control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of the treatments performed at our department from March 1999 to March 2013 with high dose rate brachytherapy with rigid needles. We included 68 patients, 63 men and 5 women; 37 patients (54.4%) presented a T1 tumour, less than or equal to 2cm, while the other 31 (45.6%) were classified as T2. Median total dose was 45Gy, with a median dose per fraction of 5Gy x 9 fractions twice a day for 5 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With a mean follow-up of 56.4 months, local control was 96.9%. Stratifying by tumour size, local control of T1 cases was 100%, while T2 achieved 93.2% (2 local recurrences). Regional control at 5 years was 93.8% for T1, and 80.8% for T2. In 11 cases with elective cervical treatment, no regional failure happened. As for toxicity, no patient presented soft tissue, or bone, necrosis. All patients achieved good or excellent cosmetic and functional results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High dose rate brachytherapy allows effective, safe treatments for squamous cell carcinoma of the lip, with good aesthetic and functional results. It can be considered a valid alternative for surgery in early stage tumours.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oncología Radioterápica, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología (IVO), Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mut
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oncología Radioterápica, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología (IVO), Valencia, España. Electronic address: jguinot@fivo.org.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Guinot
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oncología Radioterápica, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología (IVO), Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Leoncio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arribas
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oncología Radioterápica, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología (IVO), Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Díez-Presa
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oncología Radioterápica, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología (IVO), Valencia, España.
authors.forename: María Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Tortajada
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oncología Radioterápica, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología (IVO), Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oncología Radioterápica, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología (IVO), Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Josefa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samper
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oncología Radioterápica, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología (IVO), Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santamaría
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología (IVO), Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Juan Bosco
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Vendrell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden
keywords: Alta tasa de dosis; Brachytherapy; Braquiterapia; Carcinoma; Labio; Lip; Squamous cell