[Radiotherapy in carcinoma of the epipharynx]

In five year period (1977-1982) 38 patients were treated for the epipharyngeal cancer in Department for oncology and radiotherapy and Department of otolaryngology of Medical Faculty in Zagreb. Most of the patients were male (76%), between 40 and 70 years of age. In 23 (60%) the cancer was poorly differentiated, in 15 (40%) well differentiated. Most of the patients were in advanced stage (III and IV - 37 patients, only one in I stage). All patients were primary treated by radiotherapy (telecobalt). The applied dose was 60 Gy in 50% of the patients. The other received lower doses (ten of them less than 55 Gy), only one received 70 Gy by classic fractions. Surgery was performed for residual neck nodes (radical neck dissection). Adjuvant chemotherapy was administrated as a rule in cases of poorly differentiated squamous carcinoma, as well as in all cases with local recurrence and/or distant metastases. Two years survival was 45%, three years 42% and five years 21%. The other radiotherapy techniques are discussed concerning the treatment improvement and diminishment of irradiation sequalae.