I'm not sure about this but it seems like cases where the primary site is a tonsil, taste seems to come back faster than cases where the primary site is the tongue, especially with IMRT. I guess when the tongue is the primary site being radiated, there is more trauma to the taste buds.

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Diagnosed 6/28/06 with SCC of the base of tongue. T1N2bM0. Modified radical neck dissection 7/19/06. 35 x Tomotherapy IMRT began 8/15/06. 8 x adjuvant Erbitux. UPDATE: 10/4/11 - Checkup on my 5 year anniversary and I am cancer free!