Bj. Conlon et al., CANCER OF THE PYRIFORM FOSSA - HYPERFRACTIONATED RADIOTHERAPY AS A PRIMARY-TREATMENT MODALITY, Clinical otolaryngology and allied sciences, 22(4), 1997, pp. 327-331
Carcinoma of the pyriform fossa carries one of the worst prognoses of
all head and neck cancers. A prospective trial was set up to study the
efficacy of hyperfractionated radiotherapy as a primary treatment mod
ality in the management of these patients. Seventeen patients entered
the trial and were followed for up to 3 years. Results for local contr
ol, regional control and survival compare favourably with patients tre
ated primarily with surgery with or without radiotherapy. Hyperfractio
nated radiotherapy offers a logical and standardized approach to the m
anagement of this tumour and reduces the significant morbidity associa
ted with the use of surgery as a primary treatment.