Can surgery improve survival in tongue cancer patients? This retrospective study describes overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in a cohort of tongue cancer patients treated with surgery and adjuvant therapy. The study, conducted at Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HUVA) in Spain from 2000 to 2020, analyzed data from 205 consecutive patients with primary tongue cancer. Overall, 72.6% of the patients survived, with a mean survival time of 14.43 years, while 55.3% of patients suffered no relapse over a mean period of 9.91 years. The study found reduced survival in patients with tumor adjacent to or infiltrating resection margins, while lymphadenectomy was associated with increased survival. These findings highlight the importance of clear resection margins and lymph node management in improving outcomes for tongue cancer patients.
Published in Discover Oncology, this study contributes to the journal's content on cancer treatment and outcomes. By examining survival rates and associated factors in tongue cancer patients, the paper aligns with the journal’s scope of advancing knowledge in cancer management and improving patient outcomes. This real-world experience highlights important considerations for surgical treatment strategies.