Surgical Treatment and Postoperative Function in Advanced Carcinoma of the Lateral Wall of the Oropharynx

Abstract

We reviewed the results of 7 cases of advanced carcinoma of the lateral wall of the oropharynx treated by extensive surgery and reconstruction followed by radiotherapy from 1981 to 1990. 1) Following the 3-year follow-up, the 3-year control rate of primary lesion was 100% in T2, 50% in T3 and 75% in T4 cases. 2) The 3-year control rate of neck metastasis was 100% overall. 3) Posttherapeutic speech intelligibility was related to the degree of resection. 4) Regarding posttherapeutic swallowing function, all of the patients ate normal food or gruel with or without occasional aspiration. 5) The five-year cumulative survival rate was 43% overall.