Results with 192Ir interstitial brachytherapy in 110 cases of carcinoma of the oral tongue and floor of the mouth. New report

Results with interstitial ¹⁹²Ir brachytherapy as the sole or main treatment in 110 cases of carcinoma of the tongue and floor of the mouth are presented. Local control was achieve in 84.1% (T1, 95.6%, T2 88%, T3 75.7%). Serious necrosis was observed in 17.8% (48.4% in T3). 3 and 4-year survivals were 72.9% and 59% respectively. The fact that nodal metastases eventually developed in 24.7% of initially N0 and N1 (-) subjects is seen as evidence that prophylactic irradiation of th nodes in such subjects may prove profitable. In relation of these results the utility of a new protocol and of the general lines of it are discussed.