Treatment

For the treatment of the tongue carcinoma, both surgical procedures and radiological methods are available. They can be used individually or in combination to treat the tongue cancer. However, this depends on the type of tumor and its stage, which is why prior staging is essential.For the surgical removal of the tumor, the exact localization, the extent of the tumor, the metastasis in neighboring organs as well as in lymph nodes through previous diagnostics is important, because the extent of an operation from the tongue cancer depends on it.

If the tumor is small in the area of the movable part of the tongue, it is removed with a sufficient safety margin without complications. Tongue carcinomas located at the base of the tongue, which even spread to neighbouring structures, are extremely difficult to operate on. Often an extensive operation is necessary, where parts of the tongue and lower jaw are also removed.

If the neck lymphatics are also affected, a neck clearing must be performed, in which the entire lymphatic system of one side of the neck, the jugular vein, the sternocleidomastoid muscle (the head turner) and the fatty tissue must be completely removed. The resulting tissue defects are covered by flaps and grafts. In advanced tongue cancer, where lymph node metastases are present or could only be partially removed surgically, a subsequent radiotherapy is performed, which should increase the chances of recovery.

Radiotherapy is divided into primary and postoperative radiotherapy. Depending on the type of tongue cancer and how advanced it is, one or the other route of radiation is chosen. Primary radiotherapy is when radiation alone is used to cure the cancer.

It is particularly useful in the early stages of tongue cancer. The cervical lymph nodes are included in the radiation therapy after the risk of metastasis, but there is no removal of the neck. Patients who suffer from one receive postoperative radiotherapy.

The treatment should be performed soon after surgery. Postoperative radiation is administered at lower doses than primary radiation.

Extensive form of tongue cancer
Lymph node metastases and
Incompletely removed tumors

In patients with tongue cancer, there is a high risk of secondary carcinomas of the mouth and throat.

In the follow-up care, therefore, great attention is paid to a proper presentation of the nasopharynx and the oral cavity. Among the carcinomas in the oral cavity is also the cancer of the palate. The following article will show you how to recognize a palatal cancer and how it is treated if present: Palatal cancer – What you should considerTo remove a tongue cancer and thus initiate healing, an operation is inevitable.

For some years now, chemo- and radiotherapy have been used in addition in various cases. In most cases, a combination of these 3 methods is the best solution – even today, treatment is almost never possible without surgery. The treatment option without surgery and only with radiotherapy and chemotherapy is primarily used in advanced, no longer operable stages of tongue cancer.

In current treatment concepts, a combination of radiation and chemotherapy is usually combined with surgical removal of the tumor in order to improve the chances of recovery and reduce the risk of recurrence. Surgery for larger tumors can lead to a severe reduction in quality of life due to the need to remove the tongue, lower jaw or other parts of the face that are important for speech. In these cases, an attempt is usually made to reduce the size of the tumor by radiation or appropriate chemotherapy prior to surgery, since less tissue has to be removed – but the surgery itself cannot be avoided. If a patient decides against surgery although it is possible, this usually means a significantly worse prognosis and shorter life expectancy.