Statistical observation of 226 cases of head and neck tumors, during the period of April, 1973, when Department of Ear, Nose and Throat was commenced, March, 1978, was done at the Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of the RyÛkyÛ, College of Health Science, Okinawa.
The head and neck tumors were found in approximately 4.0% of all the ENT patients in each year. The number of the patients and the locations of the malignant tumors were as follows: 38 cases (16.8%) in the oral cavity, 76 cases (33.6%) in the pharynx, 53 cases (23.5%) in the larynx, 42 cases (18.6%) in the nasal and paranasal cavities, 2 cases (0.9%) in the acoustic organs and 15 cases (6.6%) in the other head and neck region. The statistical details of malignant pharyngeal tumors were as follows:
1) Epipharyngeal tumors were found in 18 cases (23.7%), oropharyngeal tumors in 38 cases (50.0%) and laryngopharyngeal tumors in 20 cases (26.3%) out of total 76 cases. Oropharyngeal tumors (38 cases) occupied 16.8% of the malignant head and neck tumors.
2) The ratio between males (30 cases) and females (8 cases) was 3.75 and 1.
3) The age was distributed from 31 to 83 years. Its high incidence was noted in the sixth and seventh decades. The average age was 60.0 years.
4) Initial symptoms of the malignant oropharyngeal tumors were pharyngeal pain, foreign body sensation, dysphagia, cervical lymphadenopathy, pain in swallowing and so on.
5) The primary tumors sites were the lateral wall of the oropharynx (22 cases 57.9%-21 cases in palatine tonsils), anterior wall (6 cases 15.8%), superior wall (10 cases 26.3%) and posterior wall (0 case 0%).
6) Histopathologically, squamous cell carcinoma was found in 26 cases (68.4%), malignant lymphoma in 11 cases (28.9%)-reticulum cell sarcoma in 10 cases and malignant mixed tumors in 1 case (2.6%).
7) According to TNM classification (UICC) and stage classification (The American Joint Committee), 7 cases (18.4%) were in stage I, 6 cases (15. 8%) in stage II, 14 cases (36.8%) in stage III, 10 cases (26.3%) in stage IV and last one (2.6%) was unknown. The advanced stages of III and IV were seen in 24 cases (63.2%).
8) Most patients were treated by external radiation (mainly cobalt 60 irradiation), chemotherapy and immuno-chemotherapy.
9) The 3 year crude survival rate in 12 patients with malignant oropharyngeal tumors was 25.0%.
