Outcomes of patients with tonsillar carcinoma treated with post-tonsillectomy radiation therapy.
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to evaluate the therapeutic outcomes of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil that underwent tonsillectomies followed by radiotherapy.


METHODS
A search of the database maintained within the Department of Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center identified 120 patients with carcinoma of the tonsil who were irradiated between 1979 and 2004 following total gross removal of their disease by tonsillectomy.


RESULTS
Thirty-six patients had stage III disease and 64 patients had stage IV disease. Only 12 patients received systemic chemotherapy. With median follow-up of 51 months, the 5-year local-regional control rate, recurrence-free survival rate, and overall survival rates were 97%, 92%, and 86%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who undergo tonsillectomies resulting in total gross removal of their primary disease followed by radiation have excellent outcomes. Our common practice is to deliver 66 Gy to the tonsillar bed. This practice has resulted in extremely high local control rates.
Yildirim
Gokcen
G
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Unit 97, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Morrison
William H
WH
Rosenthal
David I
DI
Sturgis
Erich M
EM
Papadimitrakopoulou
Vassiliki A
VA
Schwartz
David L
DL
Garden
Adam S
AS
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011336:Probability; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult