A retrospective review of 56 patients with a primary base of tongue carcinoma was undertaken to determine the value of supraglottic laryngectomy. All the patients had a supraglottic laryngectomy and a total of 77 neck dissections. Forty-three (76.8%) patients received post-operative radiotherapy. The incidence of local recurrence was 23.2%, neck relapse being seen in 16.1% of patients. The 3 year survival was 47%. The overall survival of the whole series and by stage was not improved by combined therapy compared with surgery alone.