[Interstitial irradiation of carcinoma of the tongue]

From 1977 to 1988, 61 patients have received radical treatment for a carcinoma of the mobile tongue. Fifty-nine of these patients were treated in association with a BLM (or PEP), and 26 patients with external irradiation. The local tumor control rate at two years was 77%, and subsequent lymph node metastasis was 25%. The five year cumulative survival rate was 55% and the main causes of death were found to be regional node metastases and other related diseases particularly. The determinate survival for TxN0 tumors was 83%. Six percent and 26% had radio-osteonecrosis and soft tissue necrosis respectively and three patients required surgery.