Primary and salvage surgery for cancer of the tonsillar region: a retrospective study of 120 patients.

The present series compares results in our head and neck department from primary and salvage surgery for tumors of the tonsillar region from 1978 to 1985. Of 120 consecutively admitted patients, 70 underwent primary surgery followed by irradiation, and 50 underwent salvage surgery after the failure of primary radiotherapy. Follow-up has been continued for the past 6 years. Musculocutaneous flaps were employed in all patients requiring them after the introduction of this reconstructive technique in 1981. The actuarial survival rate after primary surgery was 58% at 3 years and 46% at 5 years. For salvage surgery the figures were 38% and 24%, respectively. This disappointing survival rate in salvage surgery resulted from a higher postoperative mortality (8% versus 1.4% in primary surgery) and from a higher local failure rate (36% versus 14%). The outcome was invariably unfavorable when tonsillar tumors extended into the base of the tongue.