Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma Difficult to Treat by Additional Postoperative Treatment Due to Complicating Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia with Pancytopenia

Abstract

A 62-year-old female presented with a tumor in the left tongue. Tongue cancer （cT1N0M0） was diagnosed and she underwent a partial glossectomy during 201X. Advanced gastric cancer was also identified and treated by total gastrectomy in March 201X. Three years later, cervical lymph node metastases were treated by functional neck dissection. Anemia and pancytopenia were diagnosed in April 201X＋3, which ruled out chemoradiotherapy at the time. She was diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency anemia and hypoferric anemia, which were appropriately treated. However, she received radiotherapy alone because her blood cell count did not sufficiently improve. Her white blood cell count increased after 20 months. She is presently doing well without evidence of carcinoma relapse or metastasis.