title: Surgical treatment of locally limited tonsillar cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to assess the efficacy of primary surgical treatment in the management of locally limited tonsillar carcinoma and the incidence of occult cervical metastasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective evaluation of the records of all patients treated with primary surgery for pT1 and pT2 tonsillar carcinomas at a tertiary referral center between 1977 and 2005. All cases were assessed for disease-specific survival as well as local control rates, with respect to T and N classification, status of surgical margins, decision on neck management, and adjuvant therapy. Cases were also evaluated for incidence of major complications and incidence of tracheotomies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 209 cases were assessed. Positive surgical margins after completion of surgical treatment and advanced neck disease were shown to be significant negative prognostic factors. The occult metastasis rate was 18.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary surgical treatment is a very effective modality against locally limited tonsillar carcinoma. Low rates of complications and permanent tracheotomies are to be expected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Waldstrasse 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. konstantinos.mantsopoulos@uk-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mantsopoulos
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Psychogios
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Waldfahrer
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zenk
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iro
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*