Carcinoma of the hard palate treated with radiotherapy: a retrospective review of 31 cases

There are few studies reporting the results of radical radiotherapy for car cinoma of the hard palate. We have examined our results of patients treated within a single institution, and assessed survival, local control and morb idity. A retrospective analysis was made on 31 patients with hard palate ca rcinoma treated with external beam radiotherapy at the Christie Hospital be tween 1990 and 1997. Twenty-six patients received radiotherapy alone and fi ve were treated for post-operative positive surgical margins. The 5-year ac tuarial survival rate was 55%. The actuarial 5-year local control rate was 53%, rising up to 69% after salvage surgery. Survival was 48% for squamous cell carcinomas and 63% for salivary gland carcinomas, the difference was n ot significant. The only significant predictor of local control was T-stage , with 80% 5-year local control of T1-2 lesions and 24% control of T3-4 les ions. N-stage was the only significant factor predicting for survival. Radi ation necrosis occurred in one patient. Radical radiotherapy for carcinoma of the hard palate is safe and well tolerated. It is an effective treatment for both squamous cell carcinoma and salivary gland carcinoma. (C) 2001 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.