RESULTS OF SURGICAL SALVAGE OF LOCOREGIONAL RECURRENCE OF CARCINOMA OF THE TONGUE AFTER RADIOTHERAPY FAILURE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of surgical salvage of local and nodal recurrence of carcinoma of the oral tongue after r adiotherapy failure. Of the 47 patients in this retrospective review ( between 1980 and 1992), there were 25 with local recurrence alone, 11 with locoregional recurrence, and 11 with nodal recurrence alone. Ther e was no operative mortality, and 17% of patients had one or more surg ical complications, including wound infection, flap necrosis, anastomo tic leakage, and chest infection. Twenty-nine (62%) patients developed recurrences in the head and neck region after the salvage operation, and 9 of them had second surgical salvage operations. At the last foll ow-up, 53% of patients had died of carcinoma of the tongue and the ove rall 5-year actuarial survival rate was 43%. The 5-year actuarial surv ival rates were 39% for local recurrence alone, 27% for locoregional r ecurrence, and 68% for nodal recurrence alone. Surgical salvage had sa tisfactory results for patients with oral tongue carcinoma after radio therapy failure. Close follow-up and early surgical intervention are e ssential for patients primarily treated with radiotherapy.