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.