title: Preoperative irradiation for head and neck cancer: results of a prospective study.
abstract: Two hundred forty-eight patients with primary epidermoid carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and hypopharynx, stages II, III, and IV were entered into a prospective randomized clinical trial of preoperative irradiation therapy (700 rads X 2) and surgery versus surgery alone. At 5 years both groups had a similar survival when analyzed according to stage of disease, primary site, or lymph node status. However, the group of patients receiving preoperative irradiation showed a lower incidence of local recurrence (22% versus 36%) preoperative irradiation showed a lower incidence of local recurrence (22% versus 36%) (P = 0.02). From this study we conclude that preoperative irradiation in this dose schedule has little influence on the ultimate outcome after surgical treatment of head and neck cancer.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence