Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue and floor of mouth. Evaluation of interstitial radium therapy.

From January, 1965, to December, 1972, 46 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth and 102 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue were treated at M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute by interstitial irradiation alone or in combination with external irradiation. Through the years the combination of radiation therapy modalities has been adjusted in an attempt to improve local control, keeping complications to a minimum. In this paper we analyze local control, causes of failure and complications as related to the primary size (T stage) and radiation therapy techniques employed.