Curative brachytherapy for recurrent/residual tongue cancer.

Purpose: The efficacy of curative low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy for recurrent and/or residual cancer following radical operation or irradiation and posttreatment quality of life (QoL) were assessed.

Patients And Methods: Between January 1979 and April 2004, 88 patients who had received curative LDR brachytherapy (28 with postoperative close or positive margins, six with postoperative recurrence, six with recurrence after external-beam irradiation, and 48 with recurrent/residual cancer after curative brachytherapy) were analyzed retrospectively. Late complications were assessed based on the RTOG/EORTC late radiation morbidity score scheme.

Results: The 5-year relapse-free and cause-specific survival rates were 92% and 96%, respectively, in the close/positive margin group and 52% and 56%, respectively, in the postbrachytherapy recurrence or residual cancer group. The incidence of late side effects was 8% (2/26) in the close or positive margin group and 22% (4/18) in the postbrachytherapy group. The only grade 4 late complication (bone exposure) was observed in one patient in the postbrachytherapy group.

Conclusion: LDR brachytherapy as reirradiation for recurrent/residual tongue cancer was effective, and there was no increase in complications.