Objectives/hypothesis: Advanced carcinoma of the tongue can require total glossectomy. Although radiation therapy is of limited efficacy in T3 and T4 tumors involving the base of the tongue, many surgeons are reluctant to suggest highly mutilating surgery.
Study design: Retrospective cohort study.
Methods: We compared early postoperative complications, hospital stay duration, function, and oncological outcomes in patients who underwent total glossectomy without laryngectomy as first-line or salvage therapy.
Results: Postoperative course and functional outcomes were similar in the two groups. Overall survival was 32% at 3 years and 21% at 5 years. The risk factors for shorter survival were positive margins of resection (P =.002) and tumor spread into the mandible (P =.04). Salvage surgery was not associated with significantly lower survival (P =.09 [NS]).
Conclusions: Postoperative morbidity and functional outcomes are similar after first-line and salvage total glossectomy without laryngectomy. Local tumor control is the main factor influencing survival.