Interstitial radiotherapy with 198Au seeds in the primary management of carcinoma of the oral tongue: results in Freiburg/Breisgau from January 1964 to July 1980.

Thirty-two patients with histologically proven carcinoma of the oral tongue, Stage T1-3, were analyzed retrospectively. They were treated from January 1964 through July 1980 in Freiburg by interstitial implantation with Au-198-seeds for the primary tumor management. Out of 25 patients with complete follow-up, one patient developed a local recurrence. In three patients, regional lymph node metastases occurred, once after prior adjuvant radiotherapy to the regional lymph nodes area, and in two patients after exclusive interstitial radiotherapy to the tumor of the tongue. The overall five-year survival rate was 52% for all stages (overall group), 75% for Stage T1 and 44% for Stages T2-3. The corrected five-year survival rate was 75% for all stages, 86% for Stage T1 and 71% for Stages T2-3. The method of 198Au-seed implantation as it is practiced in Freiburg is discussed, as well as the radiation exposure of the personnel.