Treatment results of radiotherapy with or without surgery for posterior pharyngeal wall cancer of oropharynx and hypopharynx: prognostic value of tumor extension.

PURPOSE: We have been treating posterior pharyngeal wall cancer of the oropharynx and hypopharynx with external radiotherapy according to our policy reported in the 1970s.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Between 1968 and 1995, 51 patients were treated. Treatment policy was decided on the basis of the treatment response after 40 Gy of radiotherapy. Thirty-six good responders were treated with radical radiotherapy, eight poor responders received radical surgery, and the other seven patients could not receive radical treatment because of tumor or patient factors.

RESULTS

The 5-year local control and cause-specific survival rates were 56% and 48% for all 51 patients. The 5-year local control rate was 52% for radical radiotherapy. Tumors limited to the posterior wall showed better treatment results (76% for both local control and cause-specific survival) than tumors involving the postcricoid area (0% and 10%).

CONCLUSION

Radiotherapy for carefully selected patients dependent on response after 40 Gy of radiotherapy is a useful policy. Tumor extension is an important prognostic factor.