Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced squamous carcinoma of the tongue and floor of the mouth.

Our present experience with Stage III disease suggests that the most effective means of treating advanced carcinoma of the floor of the mouth and tongue are with initial chemotherapy given as basal treatment by intra-arterial infusion followed by planned radiotherapy or operation, or both. Early carcinoma of the floor of the mouth and tongue can be managed effectively with conventional techniques using surgical treatment or radiotherapy, or both, and probably does not justify the increased time and increased problems of management involved in the use of chemotherapy regimens. Our experience in comparing the two programs of treatment in patients classified as having Stage IV lesions is too small to justify valid comparisons to be made at this stage, although we currently have under investigation similar management programs for these patients.