Suprahyoid approach to base-of-tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the suprahyoid approach to treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue at Groote Schuur Hospital between 1999 and 2004.

DESIGN AND METHOD

Retrospective analysis was done of patients with base-of-tongue squamous cell carcinoma treated using the suprahyoid approach.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients underwent treatment for base-of-tongue squamous cell carcinoma utilising the suprahyoid approach. Complete medical records were available for 15 of these patients. The most common presenting symptoms were neck mass (40%) and referred otalgia (33%). Alcohol was a risk factor in more patients (64%) than smoking (47%). Adverse pathological findings were present in less than 50% of patients (involved margins 20%, perineural invasion 40%, vascular invasion 33%). Functional outcome in terms of speech intelligibility was excellent and there were minimal swallowing problems, with most patients using compensatory strategies and dietary modification. There were 2 subsequent deaths (13%) as a result of distant metastasis and a second primary.

CONCLUSION

The suprahyoid approach to treatment of base-of-tongue squamous cell carcinoma provides good exposure, local tumour control and excellent functional outcome.