Clinical investigation of squamous cell carcinoma of the posterior oropharyngeal wall

Clinical features of 33 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the posterior oropharyngeal wall treated at the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University Hospital from 1973 to 2003 were analysed. Of these, 23 (21 men and 2 women, mean age: 66 years) underwent radical treatment, and 10 (8 men and 2 women, mean age: 78 years) did not. In those treated radically, 2 were stage I, 5 stage II, 6 stage III, and 10 stage IV. The primary disease was surgically treated in 16, and reconstruction added in 5, using the free jejunum in 4 and a forearm flap. Radical radiotherapy was done in 7. Five-year local control in the 23 was 35.3%. Disease-specific 5-year survival was 32.0%. Seven died of primary oropharyngeal cancer. After treatment, 78.3% were able to eat orally. In conclusion, squamous cell carcinoma of the posterior oropharyngeal wall is relatively rare and has a poorer prognosis than other types of oropharyngeal cancer.