Outcome of patients with early T1 and T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the base of tongue managed by conventional surgery with adjuvant postoperative radiation.

BACKGROUND: Existing treatment regimens for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the base of tongue (BOT) favor chemoradiation. However, there is a shifting paradigm toward minimally invasive surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy for select tumors. The aim was to report our experience in conventional surgical management with particular focus on T1/T2 tumors, which may be candidates for minimally invasive techniques.
METHODS: Between 1985 and 2005, 128 patients were treated with primary surgery. Overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method, and predictive factors analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses.
RESULTS: Five-year OS, DSS, and RFS rates were 60%, 70%, and 61%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed pathologic T classification and extracapsular extension (ECE) were significant predictors for DSS, whereas T classification remained significant for local recurrence. DSS for T1/T2 tumors ranged from 77% (node-positive) to 84% (node-negative).
CONCLUSION: T classification and ECE are independent predictors of outcome for BOT SCC. Patients with cT1/T2 tumors had excellent outcome and may be suitable for transoral robotic or endoscopic surgical procedures.