[Multidisciplinary treatment of carcinoma of the oropharynx]

From 1963 through 1986, we examined 91 patients with carcinoma of the oropharynx. Of these 91 patients, the primary treatment modality was chosen for 75 patients. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the periods of treatment. In group I (1963-1973), 33% of the patients were applied combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and 28% chemotherapy followed by surgery as their initial treatment. In group II (1974-1986), 65% of the patients were applied combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and 21% a multimodal treatment consisting of radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy followed by composite resection. Five-year survival rate was 36% in group I and 51% in group II, which indicated a progress in the treatment of carcinoma of the oropharynx. The role of surgical treatment for carcinoma of the oropharynx was discussed. It appears that composite resection and reconstructive surgery produced a great benefit in the treatment of residual diseases after radiotherapy or recurrent diseases. Then our new treatment modality incorporating neo-adjuvant chemotherapy was presented. The literatures in terms of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy were reviewed.