Comparison of preoperative and postoperative radiation therapy for patients with carcinoma of the head and neck. Interim report.

Three hundred and fifty-four patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, supraglottic larynx, hypopharynx or maxillary sinus have been randomized for preoperative radiation therapy and surgery versus surgery and postoperative radiation therapy plus, in the case of patients with lesions of the oral cavity and oropharynx, radical radiation therapy. Data have been analyzed on 320 patients in this interim report. In the supraglottic larynx group local-regional control is significantly better for surgery and postoperative radiation therapy. The treatment differences in local-regional control in the oral cavity oropharynx and hypopharynx groups are not statistically significant. No statistically significant treatment differences exist for survival in all sites or in any site; continued follow-up is necessary to make definite treatment comparisons.