Primary malignant neoplasms of the tongue

Malignant neoplasms of the tongue are relatively common. Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 95% of malignant neoplasms in maxillofacial region. Carcinomas of the tongue make up about 40% of all malignant neoplasms of oral mucosa. Benign neoplasms occur rarely in this region of the oral cavity. Tumours of the tongue mostly appear in the anterior, movable part and also in the base. The choice of treatment depends on location and extent of the tumour. Most cases require radiotherapy after surgical treatment. The presence of clinical nodal metastases should be an indication for The aim of this study was to present clinical behaviour and treatment of patients with malignant neoplasms treated at the Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery in Lodz. 16 patients with tumours of the tongue were submitted to a retrospective study with full clinical and histopathological documentation. The authors analyzed the age, sex, location and type of neoplasm, the risk factors, the TNM stage and presence or absence of neck lymphatic node metastasis and type of treatment. All the patients have been diagnosed with malignant tumors (1 carcinoma mucoepidermale and 15 squamous cell carcinomas). Most of them were in the T2 or T3 stage of advancement and were spread in the lateral surface, 14 of them located in the anterior, movable part of the tongue, and 2 involving the base. All the patients were surgically treated or received combined method (surgery and radiotherapy or chemotherapy). In one case ineffective brachytherapy had been used before operation.