Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tonsillar Region A Retrospective Analysis of Treatment Results

Seventy-five patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar region during 1958-1982 were reviewed retrospectively. Of the 75 patients, 30 received combined treatment with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, and 45 radical radiotherapy alone. The 5-year survival rate for the entire patient series was 39%, the corresponding figure was 53% for the patients treated with combined therapy and 29% for the patients with radical radiotherapy. The radical radiotherapy group included more patients with advanced stage of the disease (stage III 27% and stage IV 66%) than the combined therapy group (47% and 23% respectively). Thirty-four patients (45%) died from uncontrolled disease.