Carcinoma of the tongue in Norway and Wisconsin. II. Influence of site and clinical stage on local control of the tumor.

The local control rates in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, treated between 1958 and 1972, were determined by retrospective analysis of the records of 339 patients at the Norwegian Radium Hospital and of 164 patients at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals. The correlation between the clinical stage and the local control rate was good in Norway, less striking in Wisconsin. As the tumor grew in size it generally became increasingly difficult to control. Irradiation and surgery appeared relatively satisfactory in patients with tumors in early stages, but were often inadequate in the advanced tumors. The differences observed between Norway and Wisconsin were statistically significant only for the tumors of the base of the tongue and T2N0, T3N0 and TxN1 tumors of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.