Carcinoma of the soft palate treated with irradiation: analysis of results and complications.

This is an analysis of 75 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate and/or uvula treated with radical radiation therapy alone (64) or in conjunction with planned neck dissection (11) between October 1964 and September 1983. All patients have a minimum follow-up of 2 years and 60 (80%) have a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Patients were excluded from analysis of disease control at the primary site and/or neck if they died within 2 years of treatment with the site(s) continuously disease free. The initial local control rates and ultimate local control rates after surgical salvage of irradiation failures for patients treated with continuous-course irradiation were as follows: T1, 8/8 (100%) and 8/8 (100%); T2, 14/19 (74%) and 16/19 (84%); T3, 5/11 (45%) and 5/11 (45%); and T4, 1/4 (25%) and 1/4 (25%). Overall, 7/55 patients (13%) treated with continuous-course irradiation experienced irradiation-related bone or soft tissue complications; there was only one severe complication. The 5-year determinate survival rates by modified AJCC stage for patients treated with continuous-course irradiation are as follows: I, 83%; II, 78%; III, 38%; IVA, 0/2; and IVB, 25%.