Fifty-one patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue were seen at Seoul National University Hospital between 1981 and 1989 and analyzed. Thirty-four patients were treated with radiotherapy alone and 17 patients with surgery and radiation therapy. Of the 34 patients receiving radiotherapy alone, 18 patients were treated with external beam irradiation alone, 11 patients with electron boost using intraoral cone(IOC) and external beam irradiation, 3 patients with interstitial implant and external beam irradiation, and 2 patients with IOC, interstital implant, and external beam irradiation. The overall 5-year survival rates(YSR) were 41.8%. The 5-YSR in stage I+II in radiotherapy(RT) alone group were 38.7% and in surgery plus radiation(OP+RT) group 81.8%(p=0.03). The 5-YSR in stage III+IV in RT alone group were 0.0% and in OP+RT group 53.3%(p=0.03). The five-year local control rates were 35.3%. The 5-year local control rates in stage I+II in RT alone group were 33.6% and in OP+RT group 61.1(p=0.04). The 5-year local control rates in stage III+IV in RT alone group were 11.1% and in OP+RT graup 53.3%(p=0.03). In RT alone group, The 5-year local control rates in stage I+II were 40.0% for patients treated with external beam irradiation only and 31.3% for patients treated with IOC or interstitial implant(p=0.68). In ealry stage(Stage I and II) oral tongue cancer, curative radiotherapy with IOC or interstital implant would be a treatment of choice and surgery reserved for salvage of radiotherapy failure. In advanced stage(Stage III and IV), surgery and postoperative radiotherapy are recommende as a treatment of choice.
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