Cancer of the tonsil--a review

A retrospective study of 142 cases of cancer of the tonsil, seen in the Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, which is a leading teaching hospital and referral centre in South India, between 1968 and 1977, has been made. The presenting symptoms, age, sex and probable aetiologic factors have been discussed. All the cases have been classified, both according to the site of occurrence and histopathology of the lesion. All the cases have been clinically staged and a follow-up attempt on 29 patients after a five-year period has been made. Some of the factors which emerged from this study were: 1. The advanced stages of the disease when the patients first sought medical advice (92 per cent of cases belonged to stages III and IV). 2. The high preponderance of men over women in cancer of the tonsil (19:1). 3. The high incidence of the disease with advancing age, especially from the fifth decade and above (85 per cent of cases belonged to the category). 4. Poor prognosis. The inadequate follow-up and the poor prognosis may be due to the following: 1. The terminal stage of the disease when first seen. 2. The ignorance and poor socioeconomic background of the patients. 3. Lack of adequate medical care and facilities for early diagnosis of the disease in rural South India.