Advanced-staged tonsillar squamous carcinoma: organ preservation versus surgical management of the primary site.

Background: Our aim was to review our experience in the management of advanced tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and to compare treatment outcomes between patients treated with and without surgery to the primary site.

Methods: The records of 74 patients with advanced-stage tonsillar SCC were reviewed. The median age at diagnosis was 58 years.