High-dose radiation therapy in carcinoma of the pyriform sinus.

In a retrospective analysis of 61 patients with carcinoma of the pyriform sinus, treated primarily with high doses of radiation therapy with surgery reserved for persistent or recurrent tumor, survival rates of 56.5% and 12.4% were found in Stages III and IV, respectively. The two patients with Stage II disease were cured. There were no Stage I patients. The local control of T4 lesions and N2-3 lesions, as well as the survival of patients with Stage IV disease, is poor with radiation alone. This points out the necessity of combining irradiation with surgery and/or chemotherapy for Stage IV disease. The results in early stages with radiation alone are acceptable.