INTERSTITIAL BRACHYTHERAPY FOR CARCINOMAS OF THE LOWER LIP - RESULTS OF TREATMENT

From 1973 to 1988 47 patients with previously untreated T1 and T2 squamous cell carcinomas of the lower lip received a definitive course of interstitial brachytherapy by iridium 192 wires. The disease stage was T1 in 21 cases (44.7%) and T2 in 26, and N0 in all cases except 2 of N1. Radiation therapy dose ranged between 6000 and 8000 cGy. Local control was obtained in 44 patients (93.6%). Treatment failure in the neck was observed in 3 patients (6.7%) The 5- and 10-year actuarial disease-free survival rates were 92% and 85%, respectively. A surgical salvage was attempted in 3 patients, with post-operative definitive control of the disease in 2. The 10-year actuarial overall survival was 95%. The incidence of complications was acceptable (10.6% of mucosal necrosis). An excellent or good cosmetic result was obtained in 91.7% of patients.