Surgery and postoperative radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and pharynx.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the rates of local-regional control, survival, and complications for patients treated with postoperative radiation for squamous carcinomas of the larynx, hypopharynx, and oropharynx.


METHODS
There were 295 patients with previously untreated squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx (n = 199), hypopharynx (n = 80), and oropharynx (n = 16) treated postoperatively with radiotherapy (RT).


RESULTS
Five-year local-regional control rates according to site and pathologic American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage were: stage III larynx, 89% versus stage IVA larynx, 85% (P = 0.33); stage III oropharynx/hypopharynx, 76% versus stage IVA oropharynx/hypopharynx, 79% (P = 0.72). Local-regional control rates steadily declined as the number of indications for administering postoperative RT increased. Five-year absolute survival rates versus pathologic AJCC stage for the entire group were: stage III 59% and stage IVA 40% (P = 0.40).


CONCLUSIONS
Rates of local-regional control, survival, and complications support the use of postoperative radiation in selected patients. Tumor control and survival will hopefully improve further with the addition of chemotherapy to postoperative radiation.
Hinerman
Russell W
RW
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32510-0385, USA. hinerrw@shands.ufl.edu
Morris
Christopher G
CG
Amdur
Robert J
RJ
Lansford
Christopher D
CD
Werning
John W
JW
Villaret
Douglas B
DB
Mendenhall
William M
WM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome