title: Treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with external beam radiation combined with interstitial brachytherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We reviewed the outcomes of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with external beam radiation and interstitial brachytherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx were treated with interstitial brachytherapy at the University of Utah between 1984 and 2001. Seventy-two patients received external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) followed by brachytherapy boost, 11 had surgery followed by EBRT and brachytherapy, 4 had surgery and brachytherapy, and 3 were treated with brachytherapy alone. Median doses for EBRT and brachytherapy were 50 and 24 Gy, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median follow-up after brachytherapy was 48.3 months for all patients. Five-year local control, disease-free survival, and overall survival were 76%, 61%, and 55%. For T1, T2, T3, and T4, 5-year local control rates were 83%, 79%, 79%, and 64%, respectively. Severe complications occurred in 13 patients, including 2 treatment-related deaths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EBRT combined with interstitial brachytherapy provide good local control rates for locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Jergin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pappas
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rankin
authors.forename: Pramod K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Brandon G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Bentz
authors.forename: L Christine
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Dennis C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Shrieve
authors.forename: Ying J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hitchcock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage