Interstitial radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar region: the Creteil experience (1971-1981).

From July 1971 to December 1981, 33 selected patients with T1, T2 tumors of the tonsillar region were treated according to the following protocol: 1. Telecobalt therapy to the primary site and to neck nodes to a dose of 45 Gy. 2. Brachytherapy to the primary site to a dose of 30 Gy using iridium 192. 3. Boost dose to involved neck nodes with electrons, or radical neck dissection, whether N1, N2, or N3. The actuarial disease-free survival was 76% when all patient groups were included and 80% for the N0 patients. The local control rate was 100%. Disease control in the neck was 94% overall and 100% for the N0 group. These results favor the use of this protocol for superficial, minimally infiltrating tumors less than 4 cm in diameter, without obvious extension to the base of the tongue or retromolar trigone.