Radiation therapy of squamous carcinoma of the floor of mouth and the lower alveolar ridge

Abstract

Treatment for 139 patients with squamous carcinomas in the floor of mouth and the lower alveolar ridge, which accounted for one-third of all patients with intra-oral cancer, are evaluated and classified after UICC and AJC's TNM recommendations retrospectively, for cancer staging and End Result Reporting. The figures include 50% women with tumours and in lower alveolar ridge. Two treatment schemes: external cobalt irradiation and external irradiation in combination with intra-oral radium-mould have been used in spite of primary bone invasion. 30% had remnant tumours and 22% recurred locally. 70% of the recurrences were discovered within a year after treatment. The total crude survival for all patients was 32%, identical for both groups. Lymph node metastases lower the survival significantly. Less than one-third had difficulties in mucous healing after treatment and 9% developed osteoradionecrosis, but only half of those patients had symptoms.