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Squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate
Author(s) -
Russ Joseph E.,
Applebaum Edward L.,
Sisson George A.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-197707000-00017
Subject(s) - medicine , odynophagia , soft palate , radiation therapy , basal cell , surgery , sore throat , carcinoma , throat , hard palate , soft tissue , radiology , dysphagia
Abstract Thirty‐eight patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate treated between 1960 and 1975 were reviewed. Males in the seventh decade predominated. All symptomatic patients complained of sore throat and/or odynophagia. Seventy‐eight percent were symptomatic less than three months. Approximately equal numbers of patients presented with Tl, T2, and T3 tumors. Twenty‐seven percent had cervical metastases when initially seen. The majority (89%) of patients were treated with radiation initially and the remainder (11%) received radiation therapy at the time of postsurgical recurrence with an absolute five year survival of 33%. Patients less than 60 years of age and those with small primary tumors and no neck metastases demonstrated better survival. Radiation therapy to the primary tumor and neck appears to be the preferred modality of initial treatment.