title: Carcinoma of the soft palate treated with irradiation: analysis of results and complications.
abstract: This is an analysis of 75 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate and/or uvula treated with radical radiation therapy alone (64) or in conjunction with planned neck dissection (11) between October 1964 and September 1983. All patients have a minimum follow-up of 2 years and 60 (80%) have a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Patients were excluded from analysis of disease control at the primary site and/or neck if they died within 2 years of treatment with the site(s) continuously disease free. The initial local control rates and ultimate local control rates after surgical salvage of irradiation failures for patients treated with continuous-course irradiation were as follows: T1, 8/8 (100%) and 8/8 (100%); T2, 14/19 (74%) and 16/19 (84%); T3, 5/11 (45%) and 5/11 (45%); and T4, 1/4 (25%) and 1/4 (25%). Overall, 7/55 patients (13%) treated with continuous-course irradiation experienced irradiation-related bone or soft tissue complications; there was only one severe complication. The 5-year determinate survival rates by modified AJCC stage for patients treated with continuous-course irradiation are as follows: I, 83%; II, 78%; III, 38%; IVA, 0/2; and IVB, 25%.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009336:Necrosis / Q000209:etiology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary; D010025:Osteoradionecrosis / Q000209:etiology; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage