Mangement of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue and floor of mouth after excisional biopsy.

A review of the records of 23 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue and floor of mouth treated with irradiation after excisional biopsy has shown that: (a) Radiotherapy, primarily using interstitial radium implants, results in excellent local control of the primary area (100%) with preservation of function. (b) The frequency and severity of soft-tissue and bone necrosis may be reduced by not exceeding 5,500-6,000 rads from radium implants when only subclinical aggregates of cancer cells are probably present. (c) Theincidence of subsequent neck disease is low-8.7% (2 of 23 patients), and does not warrant routine elective irradiation of the cervical lymphatics.