title: Unilateral radiotherapy for surgically resected lateralized squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of contralateral neck recurrence after surgery and unilateral neck radiotherapy, for lateralized tonsillar cancers with ipsilateral neck disease, in order to inform future clinical trial protocols for this disease.
  
  
  
  Patients with lateralized tonsillar squamous carcinoma (T1-T2, N0-N2b), treated with surgery and unilateral adjuvant radiotherapy in a single United Kingdom center were retrospectively identified. Rates of recurrence in the contralateral, unirradiated neck were analyzed, together with survival and toxicity data.
  
  
  
  Of 81 patients included, after a median follow-up of 5.7 years, no contralateral recurrences were identified. Five-year overall survival, progression-free survival, and locoregional control were 91.0%, 93.0%, and 95.4%, respectively.
  
  
  
  Unilateral radiotherapy is an effective and safe treatment option for the postoperative management of lateralized tonsillar cancers, even in patients with N2b disease, and should be recommended in future clinical trial protocols. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 17-23, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Thomas Paul
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Rackley
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Wanangwa Clara
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Namelo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nachi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Palaniappan
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David M J
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mererid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: radiotherapy; squamous cell carcinoma; surgery; tonsil; unilateral