title: Intended single-modality management of T1 and T2 tonsillar carcinomas: retrospective comparison of radical tonsillectomy vs radiation from a single institution.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  T1 and T2 tonsillar squamous cell cancer with limited neck disease can be managed with single-modality radiation or surgery. Over 11 years, 17 patients underwent radical tonsillectomies; and 33 patients underwent radiation-based treatments for T1 and T2 and N0 to N2a tonsil cancer. Patients were intended to receive single-modality treatment based on presentation; however, some ultimately received adjuvant treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review to compare overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and locoregional control (LRC) between the groups was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In surgical group, of 17 patients, 11 underwent surgery alone, 3 underwent surgery and radiation, and 3 underwent surgery with concurrent chemoradiation. Five-year OS for the surgical and radiation groups was 93% and 72%, respectively (no significance achieved). Five-year DSS rates (93% and 80%) and LRC (69% and 89%) similarly did not yield any significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgery remains a viable option in the management of T1 and T2 tonsillar cancers with comparable LRC, OS, and DSS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Lamarre
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esclamado
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Adelstein
authors.forename: Cristina P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Jerrold
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saxton
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scharpf
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome