[Results of percutaneous radiotherapy of mostly advanced cancers of the tongue].

A retrospective study compiles the therapy results of 164 evaluable patients with lingual tumors who had been irradiated primarily or as part of a combined surgical-radio-oncologic treatment scheme at the Radiologic Hospital of the University of Münster. The five-year survival rate of all patients in all stages is 22%, and there were no statistically significant differences in the prognosis of carcinomas of the body of the tongue (22%) and carcinomas of the base of the tongue (25%). Our own experiences as well as the communications in literature show that the dose necessary, depending on the stage, is 55 to 60 Gy for small tumors (stages I and II), given within six weeks into the region of the primary tumor. In case of extended tumors (stages III and IV), 60 to 70 Gy have to be administered in seven to eight weeks. The split-course irradiation applied in our own cases produced a small rate of side effects without any demonstrable bad influence on the prognosis. For the irradiation of regional lymph nodes which has to be performed after neck dissection, too, 45 to 50 Gy should be given within four to five weeks. This dose should be increased by about 10 to 15 Gy in case of manifestations in extended regions. The excellent efficiency of intraoral electron irradiation is pointed out.