Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2022 Apr 30:S0360-3016(22)00393-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.04.035. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to evaluate disease, survival, and toxicity outcomes following unilateral radiotherapy treatment for tonsillar cancer.
METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of patients treated at our institution between 2000-2018. Summary statistics were used to assess the cohort by patient characteristics and treatments delivered. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine survival outcomes.
RESULTS: The cohort constituted 403 patients, including 343 (85%) with clinical and/or radiographic evidence of ipsilateral cervical nodal disease including 181 (45%) with multiple involved nodes. HPV was detected in 294 (73%) tumors. Median follow-up time was 5.8 years. Disease relapse was infrequent-with local recurrence in 9 (2%) patients, neck recurrence in 13 (3%) patients, and recurrence in the unirradiated contralateral neck in 9 (2%) of patients. Five- and ten-year overall survival rates were 94% and 89%, respectively. Gastrostomy tubes were needed in 32 (9%) patients, and no patient had a feeding tube 6 months after therapy.
CONCLUSION: For patients with well lateralized tonsillar tumors and no clinically evident adenopathy of the contralateral neck, unilateral radiotherapy offers favorable rates of disease outcomes and a relatively low toxicity profile.
PMID:35504500 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.04.035
