Exclusive radiation therapy: the treatment of early tonsillar tumors.
One hundred and ninety-three T1 or T2 tumors of the tonsillar region have been treated by exclusive external irradiation between 1970 and 1982. Seventy-five percent of these tumors were classified as T2. There was no relationship between T and N stages. The nodal involvement was essentially linked to the macroscopic appearance of the tumor (superficial or nodular) and to the histology. The 5-year survival rate of the whole population was 58%. N stage and macroscopic appearance only influenced the survival. The local control was 88% for T1, 79% for T2. The main prognostic factors for local control were the histological type, with a 93% local control rate for poorly differentiated tumors versus 73% for well differentiated ones, and the macroscopic appearance, with a 83% local control rate for nodular tumors versus 75% for superficial ones. Superficial tumors spreading forward the anterior pilar have a higher local failure rate. All the patients' charts have been reviewed, and we observed a high percentage of marginal recurrences. The technique of irradiation, above all in case of a superficial tumor, must take into account the possibility of "geographic miss" and keep large safety margins.
Lusinchi
A
A
Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
Wibault
P
P
Marandas
P
P
Kunkler
I
I
Eschwege
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004583:Electrons; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes