Outcome of locally advanced stage III and IV head and neck cancer treated by surgery and postoperative external beam radiotherapy.

An uncontrolled retrospective analysis of 76 patients with locally advanced Stage III and Stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, pyriform sinus, supraglottic larynx, glottic larynx, and hypopharynx, who were treated in a uniform manner by surgical resection and 6,600 rad postoperative external beam radiotherapy, revealed relatively high 2-year and 4-year adjusted survival rates of 76% and 68%, respectively. Complication rates were acceptable (8%). The advantages of this treatment approach for locally advanced head and neck cancers compared to treatment by surgery alone are discussed.