Clinical Study

Early Stage Oropharyngeal Carcinomas: Comparing Quality of Life for Different Treatment Modalities

Table 1

Detailed description of demographics, treatment modalities, and histological differentiation according to therapy.

CharacteristicsOPOPRTOPRCT

GenderMale: 20 (76.9%)
Female: 6 (23.1%)
Male: 24 (70.6%)
Female: 10 (29.4%)
Male: 42 (82.4%)
Female: 9 (17.6%)

Age (years)Median: 55
Range: 40–69
Median: 54
Range: 37–78
Median: 54
Range: 36–73

SmokingSmokers: 12 (15.4%),
Nonsmokers: 4 (32.7%)
n.a.: 10 (38.5%)
Smokers: 13 (38.2%),  
Nonsmokers: 3 (8.8%)
n.a.: 18 (49%)
Smokers: 18 (35.3%),
Nonsmokers: 4 (7.8%)
n.a.: 29 (56.8%)

Follow-up (years)Median: 2.99
Range: 0.28–10.69
Median: 4.44
Range: 0.93–15.85
Median: 4.77
Range: 0.22–13.05

LocalizationBase of the tongue: 5 (19.2%)
Palatine tonsil: 9 (34.6%)
Palatal arch 11 (42.3%)
Oropharynx NOS: 1 (3.8%)
Base of the tongue: 8 (23.5%)
Palatine tonsil: 18 (52.9%)
Palatal arch 5 (14.7%)
Oropharynx NOS: 3 (8.8%)
Base of the tongue: 13 (25.5%)
Palatine tonsil: 31 (60.8%)
Palatal arch 2 (3.9%)
Oropharynx NOS: 5 (9.8%)

T-categorypT1: 17 (65.3%)
pT2: 9 (34.6%)
pT1: 15 (44.1%)
pT2: 19 (55.9%)
pT1: 21 (41.2%)
pT2: 30 (58.8%)

Tumor-depth (mm)*Median: 4
Range: 1–35
Median: 5
Range: 2–25
Median: 5
Range: 1–19

Tumor-size (mm)Median: 21
Range: 6–37
Median: 22
Range: 5–40
Median: 22
Range: 7–38

N-category (pooled)0: 69.2%
1: 19.2%
2: 11.5%
0: 44.1%
1: 20.6%
2: 35.3%
0: 9.8%
1: 23.5%
2: 66.7%

Neck dissectionYes: 20 (76.9%)
No: 6 (23.1%)
Yes: 34 (100%)Yes: 51 (100%)

Surgical techniqueTLM: 3 (11.5%)
Electrocautery: 33 (89.5%)
TLM: 6 (17.6%)
Electrocautery: 27 (79.5%)
Combined: 1 (2.9%)
TLM: 10 (19.6%)
Electrocautery: 40 (78.4%)
Combined: 1 (2.0%)

Histological differentiationG2: 20 (76.9%)
G3: 6 (23.1%)
G1: 1 (2.9%)
G2: 20 (61.8%)
G3: 6 (35.3%)
G2: 27 (52.9%)
G3: 24 (47.1%)

Tumor-depth is a calculated function of tumor extent and depth of infiltration.
TLM: transoral laser microsurgery, RT: radiotherapy, and RCT: radiochemotherapy.