[Cancer of the lips. Results of the treatment of 299 patients].

From 1970 to 1985, 299 patients with carcinoma of the lip were entirely managed at the Bergonié Foundation. Interstitial radiotherapy was most commonly used. It resulted in a successful local control in 96% of cases (238/248), while cosmetic and functional results seemed better than those of surgery. However, surgery seemed more performant for in situ carcinomas, late aggressive T3 carcinomas, local recurrences, as for T4 lesions associated with other techniques. After reviewing the case history of patients with local recurrences, we found technical faults in one half of those managed by interstitial radiotherapy. Local control rates after surgical salvage of recurrences was 99%. Treatment of neck nodes was not discussed in this publication.