Irradiation scheme using three daily fractions in the radiation therapy of pharyngeal and oral carcinomas

A group of 34 patients were treated by irradiation using 3 daily fractions of 1 Gy each at 4 h intervals. The overall TD in all of the patients was 60 Gy administered within 26 days. The irradiation was carried out by telecurietherapy utilizing 60Co. In 28 patients the tumor was in the oropharynx, in 1 in the hypopharynx, in 1 in the oro- and hypopharynx and in 4 in the oral cavity. There was a prevalence of advanced clinical stages. At present, 25 of the patients have survived, 21 of them without clinical symptoms of the disease. The skin reacted to irradiation only with a slight erythema and hyperpigmentation. Irradiation reactions in the oropharyngeal and oral mucosa were grave and were accompanied by significant subjective complaints. No post-irradiation complications were observed. (author)