Primary Radiotherapy of Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: Experience in Korea Cancer Center Hospital (1980. 1-1986. 12)

Park, Young Hwan; Park, Woo Yoon; Cho, Chul Koo; Koh, Kyoung Hwan; Yoo, Seong Yul; Shim, Yoon Sang; Oh, Kyoung Kyun; Lee, Yong Sik

Abstract

Sixty-six patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cropharynx were treated with radiation therapy and retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the treatment result in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital between January 1980 and December 1986. There were 42 patients with carcinoma of the tonsil including the fossa and pillar, 9 patients with carcinoma of the base of tongue, 12 patients with carcinoma of the soft palate, and 3 patiens with carcinoma of the posterior and lateral pharyngeal walls. Considering all oropharyngeal sites of involvement together, response rates for T1, T2, T3, and T4 were 80%, 77%, 73%, and 40%, respectively, with a overall response rate of 70%. The response rate for N1, N2, and N3 were 69%, 63% and 40%, respectively, with the overall regional response rate of 70%. In lower T status, undifferentiated carcinoma and primary tumor arising from the soft palate, higher response rates were obtained. The 5 year overall and disease-free survival rate were 56%, 55%, respectively. A better prognosis was obtained in early T tage(T1+T2)(p<0.01) and in patients without tumor extension into adjacent structures in carcinomas arising from tonsillar area(p<0.01). Though this study we suggest that, in terms of anatomical and functional preservation, radiation therapy seems to be an effective method for the primary treatment of patients with radiation therapy seems to be an effective method for the primary treatment of patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma.