[Prognostic factors and results of external irradiation of cancers of the base of the tongue].

At the Curie Institute, between 1958-1980, 166 patients were treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue, by external radiotherapy alone. The absolute survival was 45%, 39%, 26% at 2, 3, 5 years. 95% local and loco-regional failures arrived within the first two years; the nodal failures isolated were rare (4%). Unfavorable prognosis features are: the size of the tumor and the clinical radiation-induced regression of the primary. A new therapeutic approach is discussed: an additive curietherapy for some T1-T2 and a surgical excision (total glossectomy with or without neck dissection) for some T3-T4 of which the regression is unsatisfactory at 50-55 Gy are proposed.