[Histological evaluation of pre-operative radiation in squamous cell carcinomas of the tonsil, the base of the tongue and the hypopharynx (author's transl)].

The histological diagnostics of 13 patients with epithelisma of tonsils, tongue base and hypopharynx were examined before and after radiation with 2000 cGy telecobalt 60 with a planimetric method. The quantitative results related on mean percentage of surface of five different tissues showed the following variations: 1. an increasing of dead tumor tissue from 0.5-27.5% 2. an decreasing of still vital tumor tissue from 50.7-9.7%. 3. an increasing of fibrous tissue from 3.6-17%. 4. an increasing of granulation tissue from 0.3-3.8%. 5. a decreasing of vascular tissue from 2-0.6%. - As shown by these results, this kind of radiation may satisfy the most important requirements of a pre-operative radiotherapy. Affirmations about long time results of this kind of therapy may not yet be published with the present material.