Squamous carcinoma of the oropharynx

One hundred and ten patients with an oropharyngeal carcinoma seen in the period 1961--1971 at the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital in Amsterdam are analysed. Approximately 75% of the patients were older than 60 years. About 60% of the patients had a cervical lymph node metastasis at the time of admission. Virtually all patients were treated exclusively by radiotherapy. Of the total group, the absolute survival was 26%, for tumours of the tonsil 35%, and for the base of the tongue 17%. There was no significant correlation between the histological degree of differentiation and the survival. The possibility of improving the results of selected patients is discussed.