[Radiotherapy of tonsillar neoplasms. Evaluation of treatment results and late complications].

The aim of this study is to analyse the results of radiation treatment of 72 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil, irradiated with 60Co. Three-year local control rates of 80% in T2 stage and 40% in T3 stage were noted. Total doses of 60-65 Gy in T2 lesions and at least 70 Gy in T3 lesions, fractionated in 2.0 Gy fractions, give a high loco-regional control probability. Overall treatment time is an important factor for local control of cancer of the tonsil. With treatment time prolonged over 40-45 days, local control rate decreases rapidly. Neck lymph nodes status influences the response of cancer of the tonsil. It suggests delivery of higher total dose in the region of primary lesion when neck lymph nodes are advanced, in stage N2 and N3 then in N0 a and N1.