Elective Radiotherapy of the Neck in Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Authors:
  • OLOscar Lövdal
    Oscar Lövdal
  • RSRandulf Söberg
    Randulf Söberg
  • AJAnne-Birgitte Jacobsen
    Anne-Birgitte Jacobsen
  • JTJohan Tausjö
    Johan Tausjö
  • JEJan Folkvard Evensen
    Jan Folkvard Evensen
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Abstract
A prospectively recorded 5-year series of 254 patients receiving elective neck irradiation is evaluated. All had clinically negative necks and initial control at the primary site. Forty-seven percent of the patients had T3–4 tumours. Radiotherapy was delivered from a megavolt source at 2 Gy/day 5 days a week to a total dose of 46–50 Gy. All but 3 patients completed the treatment as planned. Neither tumour stage nor site of the primary tumour was related to the incidence of regional recurrences. Of 30 patients receiving 46–49 Gy, 5 died from neck node recurrences. Of 221 patients treated to 50 Gy or more, 16 (7.2 %) developed regional recurrences. Two of these recurrences were avoided, giving a regional failure rate of 6.3 %. As a whole, 7.8 % died from regional, 11.4 % from local, and 3.1 % from distant recurrences.