Carcinoma of the oropharynx

179 consecutive cases of carcinoma of the oropharynx (excluding the tonsillar region) were treated by irradiation from 1960 through 1976. All patients with Stage I tumor survived five years, compared with 56% for Stage II, 62% for Stage III, and 37% for Stage IV. 58% of the primary lesions were controlled by irradiation; the rate ranged from 93.8% for T1 to 37.1% for T4, with a similar decrease by T category regardless of the site of origin. Surgery contributed to salvage of recurrences, but there were slightly more complications after surgery than among patients given irradiation alone (through still fewer than in other studies). It is concluded that high-dose radiotherapy can be curative in early stages while preserving function in the head and neck (particularly the voice). Low-dose irradiation followed by surgery appears to offer no advantage.