COMPARISON OF THE LONG-TERM RESULTS OF BRACHYTHERAPY FOR T1-2N0 ORAL TONGUE CANCER TREATED WITH IR-192 AND RA-226

Background: The authors report the compatibility of iridium-192 (Ir-19 2) to Radium-226 (Ra-226) based on the clinical results of three-decad es. Methods: From 1967 through 1985, 119 patients with early oral tong ue cancer (T1-2NO) were treated with conventional Ra-226 needles and 1 35 patients with Ir-192 hair pins. Results: Local cona ol rates at 10 years for T1 and T2 tongue cancer were 79% and 61% for patients treate d with Ra-226, 83% and 68% with Ir-192. The 10-year cause-specific sur vival rates for the T1 and T2 patients with Ra-226 were 76% and 63%, a nd those with Ir-192 were 77% and 68%, respectively. Conclusions: Ir-1 92 showed good possibilities its a substitute for Ra-226 in brachyther apy for early oral tongue cancer.