Small-Dose Preoperative Radiation Therapy

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Abstract
Small-dose pre-operative radiation therapy (1,500-3,000 rad tumor dose) was administered to 30 patients with epidermoid carcinomas of the upper respiratory or digestive tracts. All were candidates for primary surgical therapy. Histopathologic changes were found in the resected specimens of the carcinomas of the maxillary antrum tonsil, larynx, and hypopharynx. In 6 of the 30 cases no carcinoma cells were found histologically, and in 6 others only a few microscopic foci of markedly altered tumor cells were seea These findings are discussed in the light of more recent concepts in radiation biology. In all but 1 case normal healing of the wound took place. Determination of benefit attributable to such therapy must await analysis of long-term survival.