The role of the carbon dioxide laser in treatment of carcinoma of the tongue.

This paper presents 35 patients with carcinoma of the tongue who have been treated in Southampton using the Carbon Dioxide laser. The treatment programme for each individual patient was determined by radiotherapists and surgeons in a combined head and neck/oncology clinic. T1 carcinomas were treated by primary laser excision biopsy whereas larger tumours were treated first by conventional radiotherapy unless there was a significant contraindication to this treatment modality. Of 10 patients with T1 lesions nine are alive and well and disease free, but one patient died of other causes with no sign of recurrence. The minimum follow-up period has been two years. Of 25 patients with T2 and T3 lesions treated either before or after radiotherapy, nine are alive and disease-free, eleven died of disease and five patients died of other causes with no evidence of recurrence.