Oncological outcomes of total glossectomy procedure for advanced tongue cancer: a single-centre experience

Surgeons treating advanced carcinoma of the tongue with total glossectomy face many conflicts in view of the morbidity and poor functional and survival outcomes following surgery. It is pertinent to study the patients undergoing total tongue compartment resection as a separate cohort to analyse their outcomes. This study investigated the oncological outcomes of 150 patients with advanced tongue squamous cell carcinoma who underwent total glossectomy. The results suggest that compartment resection significantly improved local control, irrespective of margin status. The presence of multiple positive nodes was found to be an independent poor prognostic factor, and adjuvant radiation significantly improved survival. Total glossectomy is feasible and safe in both the primary and salvage setting and should be considered as the surgical option for advanced tongue cancer.