SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS OF THE TONSILLAR AREA AND PALATINE ARCH

Abstract

Progress has been made in the last 2 decades in the management of lesions of the tonsillar area and palatine arch. This is manifested by increased survival rates and also by increased freedom from local disease or disease in the neck. The management of the primary lesion is essentially radiotherapeutic with surgical resection useful in specific indications. The primary surgical resection of diffuse neck disease or disease which has spread beyond the capsule of the lymph nodes is fraught with a high incidence of local recurrences and the increased freedom from disease in the neck can be attributed to the very close combination of radiation therapy and surgery. Adjustment in radiotherapeutic and surgical techniques have evolved through the years to minimize complications.