[Treatment of cancer of the hard palate--analysis of 93 patients].

From Jun. 1958 to Jun. 1977, 128 patients with cancer of the hard palate were treated in our hospital. Of them, 93 (58 male and 35 female), proved by pathology and followed up more than five years, were analysed. The peak age was between 40 approximately 59 years (comprised 48% of all patients). Sixty-six patients were treated by radiation only and 27, by the non-randomized combination of surgery and radiation. The dose for radiation alone was 7,000-10,000 rad (for the neck 4,000-5,000 rad) and for the combined therapy was 5,000 rad. The five year survival rates of radiation alone and the combined therapy were 24% and 59% (P less than 0.05). The factors influencing prognosis were: 1. Age--patients with ages in the fourth and fifth decades gave the best result (51%). 2. Clinical stage--the five year survival rates in stage I, II, III and IV were 92%, 43%, 37% and 17%, respectively. The results of the combined therapy were better than those of the radiation alone, whatever the stage was. 3. Dose--when the dose for radiation alone exceeded 7,000 rad, the results were better. The combined therapy gave more satisfactory results with the dose 5,000-8,000 rad. The final outcome was not influenced by sex and pathological classification. Of 72 patients who died, 55 were treated by radiation alone (64% of patients died of local uncontrol), and 17 by the combined therapy, (died of hematogenous spread 47% and local recurrence 41%).