Radiation therapy treatment results with malignant lower jaw tumors

This paper reports on a retrospective comprehensive group of patients from Jan. 1, 1960 to June 30, 1983. It deals with 79 primary malignant lower jaw tumors in 50 men and 29 women (63 carcinomas and 16 sarcomas). From 60 patients treated with surgery and radiation, 56 were irradiated postoperatively, 2 pre- and postoperatively, and 2 preoperatively and 19 patients underwent only radiation therapy - mostly palliative. One quarter of the patients developed a recitivation, from these 6 were after only primarily surgical treatment. The 3-year survival rate of all patients was 48.8%, the 5-year survival rate 44.6%. The tumors were treated with opposing stationary radiotherapy in split-course technique and with a focal dose of 50 Gy. Twice a radiation mucositis was found as an irradiation side effect, an osteoradionecrosis was not observed. 15 of the 79 patient received in palliative intent additionally chemotherapy, 3 of the 79 the same in curative intent. (orig./MG)