[Carcinoma of the soft palate]

Between 1989 and 1994 17 patients with carcinoma of the soft palate were treated in Department of Otolaryngology, Białystok. Majority of patients (15) had small tumors T1-T2. 1/3 of the patients developed regional metastases during the course of disease. 23.5% of the patients had second primary tumor in the upper aerodigestive tract, two previously, one synchronously and one metachronously. 10 patients were treated with surgery and 5 with radiotherapy as single treatment modalities. In one case surgical treatment was followed by radiotherapy. After surgical treatment no local recurrences were observed up to now. Of the five patients who died because of carcinoma of the palate four had advanced regional metastases in the time of diagnosis. In conclusion, localized soft palate lesions are amenable to surgical excision without causing significant functional disability.