The Laryngoscope VC 2009 The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society, Inc. Outcomes of Primary Surgical Treatment of

10%–15 % of all head and neck cancers. At presenta-tion 60%–70 % will have advanced-stage disease with a high incidence of neck metastases. Primary treat-ment employing radiotherapy, with or without chemo-therapy, is widely prescribed. The aim of this study is to analyze the outcome of definitive surgical manage-ment of T1–T2 cancers of the oropharynx. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients treated at the Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute. Patients with previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oropharynx were included according to the TNM stage of the disease as follows: T1 or T2, any N-stage, and M0. All patients underwent definitive primary surgical management. Primary analysis endpoints were locoregional control rates and disease-specific survival. Results: Ninety-two patients were identified, of which 26 were T1 and 66 were T2. Forty-four patients had clinical neck disease, and 57 had postop-erative radiotherapy. The results showed no signifi-cant difference between the T1 and T2 groups with respect to local control or treatment type; however, advanced-stage neck disease was associated with a worse prognosis. The 5-year disease-specific survival was 83 % and local control rate was 87%. Ultimately, 25 of the 92 patients had treatment failure (27%). Conclusions: Selected patients with early-stage primary cancers of the oropharynx may be effectively treated with definitive primary surgery