AIM: To analyse the local spreading pattern through clinical delimitation of primary lesion extension as well as subsites involvement. STUDY DESIGN: Chart review. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Files of 290 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the base of the tongue from Department of Head Neck and Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology of Hospital Heliópolis, Hosphel, São Paulo, Brazil from 1977 to 2000, were analysed. They were staged through TNM from UICC, and then through thoygh K square text with Z x N (Cochran) tables for assessment of sites and size association of neoplasia in relation of medium line invasion. RESULTS: Male predominance (8:1) in 6th decade (41,0%), 83,8% were alcohol and tobacco dependent and 4,7% without this habbit. About symptoms, odinophagia (37,6%), lymphonode (21,7%) and medium time between tho first sympton and diagnosis of 6 months 62,0%). About staging, T1-T2 (18,3%), T3 (32,4%), T4(50,7%). Concerning local spreading: valecula (25,3%), epiglotis (18,7%), glottis (2,7%), anteriorly to lingual V (22,4%) and postero-lateraly to pharyngoepiglotic fold (6,6%), piriform sinus (2,2%). About medium line involvement (66,2%), 42,2% were (T2), 54,2% (T3) and 82,9% (T4). CONCLUSION: the SCC in T4 stage reach the medium line of base of the tongue in 82,9%.
spreading; squamous cell carcinoma; base of the tongue
