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Management of squamous cell carcinoma of the base of tongue with chemoradiation and brachytherapy
Author(s) -
Cano Elmer R.,
Lai Stephen Y.,
Caylakli Fatma,
Johnson Jonas T.,
Ferris Robert L.,
Carrau Ricardo L.,
Snyderman Carl H.,
Gooding William E.,
Simenthal Alfred A.,
Myers Eugene N.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.21111
Subject(s) - medicine , brachytherapy , chemoradiotherapy , lymph node , radiation therapy , basal cell , carcinoma , surgery , radiology , oncology
Background. Treatment of base of tongue (BOT) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has traditionally been associated with poor prognosis and significant morbidity. We report a program consisting of concurrent chemoradiation followed by brachytherapy for these patients. Methods. We reviewed all patients in our institution with previously untreated BOT SCC (1996–2004) who received this treatment program. Results. In 88 patients (median age, 60.2 years; 37 T1/T2; 51 T3/T4), cervical lymph node metastases were present in 71 patients (80.7%). Six patients had residual/subsequent cervical metastases requiring 7 neck dissections. Local recurrence occurred in 16 patients (18.2%) and distant metastases occurred in 9 patients (10.2%). Median follow‐up time was 3.1 years (range, 0.5–7.8 years). Three‐year overall survival was 80.9% (95% CI: 69.6% to 88.3%). Locoregional control rate was 79.9% and disease‐specific survival was 69.5% at 3 years. Conclusions. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed with brachytherapy is a safe and effective method of treatment of SCC of the BOT. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009