[Results from radiotherapy of cancer of the vallecula or of the base of the tongue obtained in 171 patients between 1950 and 1976 (author's transl)].

The results of radiotherapy in 171 patients with cancer of the base of the tongue or vallecula from the period between 1950 and 1976 are reported. 19% of all patients were cured (5 years no evidence of disease). There is no difference of the cure rate between conventional kilovoltage and highvoltage irradiation. In early cases, there can be achieved a cure rate of about 60% by irradiation with 1900 to 2000 ret without an unacceptable rate of complications. In the majority of the patients, however, there is a moderate or advanced stage of the tumour at the time of the diagnosis. In the moderately advanced stages, the cure rate is between 20 and 50%, whereas only a small percentage of the patients with advanced tumours (T3 or N2 + N3) can be cured by radiotherapy. In order to achieve significantly higher cure rates in this cancer, further development of radiotherapy is decisive, especially perhaps radiotherapy with fast neutrons and development of agents which modify the radiation effects selectively in normal or in cancer cells.