[Update on exclusive radiotherapy of T1 and T2 of the faucial arch].

From April 1971 to October 1984, 71 patients with T1 or T2 tumors of the faucial arch were treated according to the following protocol: Telecobalt therapy to the primary site and to the neck nodes to a dose of 45 Gy. Brachytherapy to the primary site to a dose of 25 to 30 Gy using iridium 192. For node positive patients, boost dose to involved neck nodes with electrons, or radical neck dissection. Seven patients with T1N0 tumors were treated exclusively by 60 Gy iridium implantation. The crude disease free survival is 66% for the group of patients with tumors of the tonsillar region and 41% for those with tumors of the soft palate or uvula. Local control of tonsillar tumors was 98% while that of tumors of the soft palate was 85%. Regional control was 98% for the N0 group and 87% for the N1-3 group. Five cases of soft tissue ulceration were observed, all of which healed spontaneously within a few months. Less salivary impairment was seen than after treatment by external irradiation alone. While these promising results have encouraged the use of this protocol, the introduction of the plastic tube technique has expanded the indications to include almost all T1 and T2 tumors of the faucial arch without obvious extension to the base of tongue or retromolar trigone.