Unilateral radiotherapy for surgically resected lateralized squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of contralateral neck recurrence after surgery and unilateral neck radiotherapy, for lateralized tonsillar cancers with ipsilateral neck disease, in order to inform future clinical trial protocols for this disease. METHODS Patients with lateralized tonsillar squamous carcinoma (T1-T2, N0-N2b), treated with surgery and unilateral adjuvant radiotherapy in a single United Kingdom center were retrospectively identified. Rates of recurrence in the contralateral, unirradiated neck were analyzed, together with survival and toxicity data. RESULTS Of 81 patients included, after a median follow-up of 5.7 years, no contralateral recurrences were identified. Five-year overall survival, progression-free survival, and locoregional control were 91.0%, 93.0%, and 95.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION Unilateral radiotherapy is an effective and safe treatment option for the postoperative management of lateralized tonsillar cancers, even in patients with N2b disease, and should be recommended in future clinical trial protocols. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 17-23, 2017.