[Results of brachytherapy of tongue cancer]

One hundred thirty-two patients with primary cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue treated at National Sapporo Hospital from 1972 to 1982 were reviewed. Most primary sites were treated with interstitial needle implant with or without external beam irradiation. The local control rate by needle implant for the primary tongue lesions was 85.5%. That for the single plane implant was especially notable at 92.5%. The cumulative five-year survival rate was 92.8% in stage, I, 74% in stage II, 53.2% in stage III, 12.5% in stage IV and 64% overall.