Schweizer C, Strnad V, Lotter M, Kreppner S, Merten R, Fietkau R, Karius A (2025)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2025
Book Volume: 51
Article Number: 100922
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctro.2025.100922
Introduction: Postoperative radiotherapy is generally recommended for pT1/2pN0 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (OSCC) if risk factors are present. Prospective studies are missing. Interventional radiotherapy offers a precise dose application. In this paper we analyze long-term efficacy and toxicity in a large single-center cohort of patients with early OSCC receiving sole postoperative brachytherapy (BT). Material and methods: From 1998 to 2023, 217 patients were postoperatively treated with sole BT in our institute. The median follow-up was 110 months (range: 2–316). The primary objective was local control. Secondary outcomes were overall survival, cancer specific survival, and toxicity. Results: The local recurrence rates for 12, 24, and 60 months were 7.1 %, 9.1 %, and 12.6 %. The disease-free survival was 89.7 %, 86.1 %, and 79.3 %. The overall survival rates at 12, 24, and 60 months were 94.4 %, 89.6 %, and 77.9 %. The cancer-specific survival was 97.1 %, 96.6 %, and 92.9 %, respectively. At two years, the rate of regional recurrence was 8.3 %. Patients without neck dissection had a significantly increased risk for lymph node recurrence (p = 0.025). Side effects ≥ grade 3 were seen in 14 % (30/217). 17 % (37/217) of patients developed a soft tissue necrosis (STN). Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) was seen in 7 % (15/217) of patients. A target volume > 15 cm3 was significantly associated with the occurrence of STN (p = 0.011) and ORN (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Postoperative interventional radiotherapy for previously not irradiated patients with early-stage OSCC is a safe and efficient treatment. Randomized trials are needed to compare these results to omission of postoperative radiotherapy as well as external beam radiotherapy.
APA:
Schweizer, C., Strnad, V., Lotter, M., Kreppner, S., Merten, R., Fietkau, R., & Karius, A. (2025). Postoperative brachytherapy alone for 217 patients with early-stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology, 51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctro.2025.100922
MLA:
Schweizer, Claudia, et al. "Postoperative brachytherapy alone for 217 patients with early-stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma." Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology 51 (2025).
BibTeX: Download