[Recurrencies in oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal and supraglottic squamous-cell carcinomas (author's transl)]

80 patients with recurrent carcinomas of the oropharynx, hypopharynx and supraglottis were examined. Average recurrency occured after 15,1 months. 10 patients showed first and 3 patients second recurrent carcinomas on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. All the recurrencies were located distant from the primary tumor site, within the irradiation field and most of the times contralaterally. Lymphatic vessel damage and inversion of the regular lymphatic drainage are discussed for their etiological role.