title: A Retrospective Evaluation of Partial Glossectomy for Early Tongue Cancer Using a Carbon Dioxide Laser.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the postoperative results of partial glossectomy for early tongue cancer using a carbon dioxide laser (CO2laser).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  CO2lasers are frequently used for the excision or treatment of soft tissue in a range of diseases, including oral cancer, leukoplakia, mucocele, anomalies of the labial and lingual frenum, and peri-implantitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 31 primary cases of early superficial tongue cancer that were treated using CO2lasers. In this study, early superficial cancer of the tongue is defined as a T1 or T2 tumor (TNM classification, NOMO; type, superficial spread, or exophytic; depth, <5 mm). The lesions were stained with 10% Lugol's solution and excised with a 5- or 10-mm safety margin from the nonstained area or induration using a CO2laser. The raw surface was covered with a polyglycolic acid sheet using fibrin glue spray (n = 23), sutures (n = 6), or both (n = 2). Five of the patients showed a bleeding tendency: 1 was taking warfarin 100 mg per day, 1 was taking 350 mg per day, 2 were taking aspirin 100 mg per day, and 1 was taking aspirin 200 mg per day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no cases of postoperative bleeding. Regarding postoperative pain, all patients could stop taking analgesic drugs by 1 month after undergoing the operation. In regards to postoperative difficulty to swallow, all could start swallowing rice gruel 2 days after the operation. The surgical margin was unclear in two cases due to the thermal denaturation of the excisional margin. The 2-year local control rate was 100% and subsequent cervical lymph node metastasis rate was 6.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In terms of recurrence, metastasis, postoperative bleeding, postoperative pain, and swallowing, partial glossectomy for early tongue cancer using a CO2laser might therefore help improve the postoperative course.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine , Kobe, Japan .
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kimoto
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine , Kobe, Japan .
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine , Kobe, Japan .
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kita-harima Medical Center , Ono, Japan .
authors.forename: Junichiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine , Kobe, Japan .
authors.forename: Kousuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine , Kobe, Japan .
authors.forename: Yui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Enomoto
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine , Kobe, Japan .
authors.forename: Takahide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Komori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005927:Glossectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: CO2 laser; cancer; oral and maxillofacial surgery