Radiotherapy of carcinoma in the hypopharynx

Thirty-five patients with carcinoma of hypopharynx were treated with irradiation to a dosage of 5000 to 6600 rad in six to nine weeks. The one-year survival was 20 out of 35 (57%), the three-year survival five out of 24 (21%), and the five-year survival four out of 19 (21%). Patients with smaller tumours of T1N0 and T2N0 presented a higher five-year figure, three out of seven, than patients with advanced tumours, one out of twelve (8%). The location of the tumour in the posterior wall of the pharynx implied a somewhat more favourable prognosis than the location in the pyriform sinus or postcricoid area. As the results achieved with radiotherapy or surgery alone are rather poor, combination of the treatment method should be considered.