The relation of CT-determined tumor parameters and local and regional outcome of tonsillar cancer after definitive radiation treatment.

PURPOSE: To investigate the value of CT-derived tumor parameters as predictor of local and regional outcome of tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma treated by definitive radiation therapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: The pretreatment CT studies of 112 patients with tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma were reviewed. After redigitizing the films, primary and nodal tumor volume was calculated with the summation-of-areas technique. The nodal CT aspect was graded using a 3-point scale (homogenous, inhomogeneous, and necrotic). Mean follow-up time was 33 months. Actuarial statistical analysis of local and regional outcome was done for each of the covariates; multivariate analysis was performed using Cox's proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

In the actuarial analysis, CT-determined primary tumor volume was significantly correlated with local recurrence rate (p < 0.05) when all patients were considered, but primary tumor volume did not predict local control within the T2, T3, and T4 category. CT-determined nodal volume was significantly related to regional outcome (p < 0.01), but nodal density was not. Total tumor volume was not significantly related to locoregional outcome (p = 0.1). In the multivariate analysis, the T and N categories were the independent predictors of local and regional outcomes, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Compared to other head-and-neck sites, primary and nodal tumor volume have only marginal predictive value regarding local and regional outcome after radiation therapy in tonsillar cancer.