On a series of cases of cancer of the tongue / by Stanley Boyd and W. H. Unwin.

  • Boyd, James Stanley Newton, 1856-1916.
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: On a series of cases of cancer of the tongue / by Stanley Boyd and W. H. Unwin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    the 26 tongue cases, 6 were anterior; 12 lay in the molar region, in front of the anterior pillar ; 6 occupied more or less of this region and of the anterior third ; 1 stretched back into the posterior third ; only 1 occupied the posterior third. Adding together our two previous summaries we find that of 33 primary cases (26 tongue, 7 fraenal) 1 is free from cancer after 11 years ; 1 is free from one cancer after 8^ years, and from another after 2\ years ; 2 died free from cancer after 6 years and 4J years ; 1 (fraenal) is free after 2\ years ; 1 is free after 11 months. 1 recurred in a low gland after 4I years ; 1 recurred in loco (fraenal) after 3^ years; 1 recurred twice in glands during the first 2 years, and these remained free from local or cervical recurrence till death at 4i Years; 16 others recurred within a year ; 8 died. The main questions, under which lie several others, are :— 1. Could not recurrence have been more frequently prevented ? and, 2. Could not the immediate mortality be reduced ? 1. Some “ recurrences ” may really be fresh growths. This would seem most probable when they occupy positions separated by an interval from the first growth, not in the line between it and the nearest glands, and not parts of the original operation-wound, which might have been directly inoculated from the primary growth. The time-relation is less important: true secondary recurrences may appear very late. These “ recurrences cannot be prevented. We have had reason to think, though it is difficult to prove, that some recurrences have been due to direct inoculation of raw surfaces from the growth as it is dragged past them, and we have endeavoured to keep the growth wrapped in a “ guard. This is not satisfactory: and we propose in future to try wiping over the surface of the growth with the cautery before beginning the operation. Similar infection of surfaces undoubtedly takes place from wounded or burst, softened