SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE POSTERIOR PHARYNGEAL WALL - CHARACTERISTICS COMPARED WITH THE LATERAL WALL

Squamous cell carcinoma of the posterior ore- and hypopharyngeal wall (SCCPPW) is a relatively rare tumour. A retrospective investigation of 63 patients with SCCPPW and 449 patients with carcinoma of the latera l ore- and hypopharyngeal wall, treated between 1964 and 1992, has bee n carried out. Most SCCPPW were asymptomatic, macroscopically superfic ial and at early stages. They were usually detected by chance during a n examination for a different type of malignancy. Fifty-seven per cent of SCCPPW patients had multiple rumours; however this occurrence did not alter the survival rate. The crude five-year survival rate for SCC PPW was 22 per cent and was not significantly different from that of p atients with lateral wall rumours. Moreover, both local control and re currences also were not statistically different.