Radiation therapy of carcinoma of the tonsil

The results of treatment with radiation therapy of 65 cases of epidermoid carcinoma of the palatine tonsil have been reviewed. The major determinant of prognosis is the stage of the primary lesion. Failure usually results from the inability to control local grossly detectable tumor. Thirteen of thirteen T1 lesions but only two of sixteen T3 lesions were locally cured with external beam radiation therapy. No difference in survival was noted between patients with no clinical adenopathy vs those with clinically involved movable ipsilateral adenopathy.