A patient presented with a 1 x 1.5 cms growth on the lateral border of the tongue. The treatment indicated would be -
Ans is 'a' i.e. laser ablation Treatment of oral tongue cancer is primarily surgical, with wide local excision and negative margin control. Small tumors (T1- T2)- may be removed by wide local excision and primary closure or closure by secondary intention. Excision of larger tumors - requires paial glossectomy or hemiglossectomy. Schwaz writes- "The CO2 laser may be used for excision of early tongue cancers or for ablation of premalignant lesions." If regional lymphnodes are involved- Modified radical neck dissection or selective neck dissection is done. Indications for postoperative radiation therapy include evidence of perineural or angiolymphatic spread or positive nodal disease.
Laser ablation
Interstitial brachytherapy
External beam radiotherapy
Chemotherapy