Comparison of three major radioactive sources for brachytherapy used in the treatment of node negative T1-T3 oral tongue cancer: influence of age on outcome.

AIM To examine the efficacy of major radioactive sources used in brachytherapy and the influence of age. PATIENTS AND METHODS Six hundred and forty-eight patients with node negative oral tongue cancer (T1-3NOMO; 212T1, 352T2, 84T3) treated at Osaka University Hospital, between 1967 and 1999, were reviewed. RESULTS The 5-year local control rates for patients treated with Ra-226 and Ir-192 were 85%, and 79% for Ti, 75% and 73% for T2, 62% and 64% for T3 tumors, respectively, and for those in the MicroSelectron-high-dose-rate (MS-HDR) group were 87% for T1, 79% for T2 and 89% for T3. Patients 65 years of age or older attained lower 5-year local control rates (67% for total cases; 72% for Ti, 68% for T2 and 59% for T3) than their younger counterparts (79%, 86%, 77% and 69%; p=0.004). CONCLUSION The three major radioactive sources produced results that were not significantly different, and age proved to be a factor influencing outcomes.