Carcinoma of maxillary antrum: The role of pre‐operative irradiation

Abstract

Abstract Nineteen patients with carcinoma of the maxillary antrum were treated sequentially with pre‐operative irradiation and radical surgery. Seven of 19 patients (37 percent) were free of disease for longer than three and one half years (one patient for two years). Infrastructure tumors were more favorable than those involving the entire antrum. The control rate for infrastructure tumors was five of 11 patients (45 percent). The most important cause of failure is the inability to destroy the tumor locally or early local recurrence. Pre‐operative irradiation at a dose level of 6,000 rads in five weeks or its equivalent is an important addition to the treatment of advanced antral cancer.