Oral carcinoma of the upper jaw. Results of radiation treatment.

Thirty-eight patients with hard palate carcinoma and 82 with upper gum carcinoma received primary therapy consisting of radiation therapy alone or in combination with surgery. Fifty-three per cent of the primary lesions were successfully controlled by initial radiation therapy. Radiation therapy did not seem to give inferior results compared with surgery in the treatment of the primary lesion. The most important determining factors in the prognosis were the presence of cervical metastases, and bone involvement.