Annals of Surgical Oncology Sign the Guestbook
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Toonkel, L. M.
Right arrow Articles by Dembrow, V.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Toonkel, L. M.
Right arrow Articles by Dembrow, V.

Annals of Surgical Oncology, Vol 1, Issue 6 468-472, Copyright © 1994 by Society of Surgical Oncology

ARTICLES

Radiotherapy for parotid cancer

L. M. Toonkel, S. Guha, P. Foster and V. Dembrow
Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami Beach, Florida 33140.

BACKGROUND: Parotid malignancies represent a heterogeneous group of tumors primarily managed by surgical extirpation. Moderately high recurrence rates are seen after surgery alone, and postoperative radiotherapy has been used for patients with higher risks for local failure. METHODS: To assess the role of radiotherapy in the management of patients with malignant tumors of the parotid gland, the records of 68 patients receiving megavoltage therapy at our institution from 1966 to 1989 were reviewed. Patients were placed into three groups for analyses. Group I was composed of 41 patients receiving radiotherapy following total gross removal of parotid cancer by surgical procedures, varying from excisional biopsy through total parotidectomy. Radiation dose for this group ranged from 4,995 to 6,500 cGy. Group II was composed of 10 patients treated with radiotherapy after incisional biopsy or excision with positive margins. These patients received radiation doses of 4,000-9,470 cGy. Group III was composed of 17 patients receiving radiotherapy for a postsurgical local recurrence. Their radiation dose ranged from 4,300 to 8,400 cGy. RESULTS: Two of the 41 patients from group I developed a local recurrence. Two of these patients also developed distant metastases, one concurrent. Two of 10 group II patients failed locally, whereas three developed distant metastases. Only nine of the 17 patients in group III were controlled locally, and four patients developed distant dissemination. CONCLUSION: Total gross excision of parotid cancer, sparing facial nerve if possible and followed by regional radiotherapy, provides excellent rates of local control and survival with modest toxicity. Patients presenting postoperatively with gross residual tumor or recurrence after surgery should be considered for trials of more aggressive treatment with combined chemotherapy or altered fractionation schemes of irradiation.




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1994 by the Society of Surgical Oncology.