[T3 and T4 cancer of the oral cavity, surgical treatment with oral tongue resection].

Amputation of the oral tongue is required to treat T3 and T4 bilateral tumors of the anterior two third of the tongue with or without extension to the floor of the mouth. This partial glossectomy was performed initially for 27 patients and as salvage therapy for 35 patients with recurrent diseases. The reconstruction required a flap in all cases, including 8 microvascular free flaps. Two months after surgery, two third of patients had a satisfactory swallowing hability. The functional results were worst for patients operated after radiotherapy. Actuarial survival rates were 37.5% and 22.1% at 3 and 5 years respectively. The survival rate of patients who had surgery as primary modality of treatment was significantly better as compared with those who had radiotherapy before surgery (p=0,018). This surgery offers a perfect control of tumors of the anterior floor and oral tongue and good rehabilitation provided by the conservation of the posterior tongue.