Treatment of oral cancers using iridium-192 interstitial irradiation

Abstract Objective—To assess retrospectively the outcome and morbidity of Iridium-192 brachytherapy in the treatment of oral cancers. Design—Restrospective audit of cases treated between 1981 and 1991. Setting—Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Subjects—73 patients with oral cancer treated with Iridium-192. Main outcome measures—Local control, crude and cause specific survival, and local morbidity. Results—Seventy four cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity were treated using interstitial Iridium-192. The disease specific 5-year survival rates were 69% for T1, 67% for T2, and 0% for T3 tumours. Mortality from recurrent cancer was 20%, and from intercurrent disease was 28%. The incidence of major radiation induced morbidity was 11%, and the local control rate was 81% for T1, 69% for T2, and 50% for T3 tumours. Conclusion—Interstitial radiotherapy remains a viable and valuable mode of treatment for a small proportion of patients presenting with early (T1 and T2) oral cancers.