Table 1 Patient demographics, tumor characteristics and treatment modalities
|  | All Patients (n = 29) | Aspirators (n = 10) | Non-aspirators (n = 19) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median age | 54 (30–73) | 54 (31–67) | 54 (30–73) | 0.75 |
Dose (cGy) | 7000 (6400–7500) | 7175 (7000–7500) | 7000 (6400–7500) | 0.11 |
| Â | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | Â |
Sex | ||||
 Male | 23 (79.3) | 7 (70.0) | 16 (84.2) | 0.63 |
 Female | 6 (20.7) | 3 (30.0) | 3 (15.8) |  |
Smoking | ||||
 No | 23 (79.3) | 6 (60.0) | 17 (89.5) | 0.14 |
 Yes | 6 (20.7) | 4 (40.0) | 2 (10.5) |  |
Tumor Site | ||||
 Oropharynx | 22 (75.9) | 9 (90.0) | 13 (68.4) | 0.065 |
 Unknown Primary | 6 (20.7) | 0 | 6 (31.6) |  |
 Hypopharynx | 1 (3.5) | 1 (10.0) | 0 |  |
T stage | ||||
 T0 | 5 (17.2) | 0 | 5 (26.3) | 0.18 |
 T1 | 8 (27.6) | 3 (30.0) | 5 (26.3) |  |
 T2 | 11 (37.9) | 4 (40.0) | 7 (36.8) |  |
 T3 | 4 (13.8) | 3 (30.0) | 1 (5.3) |  |
 T4 | 1 (3.5) | 0 | 1 (5.3) |  |
N stage | ||||
 N1 | 1 (3.5) | 0 | 1 (5.3) | 0.17 |
 N2a | 3 (10.3) | 0 | 3 (15.8) |  |
 N2b | 21 (72.4) | 7 (70.0) | 14 (73.7) |  |
 N2c | 4 (13.8) | 3 (30.0) | 1 (5.3) |  |
Stage | ||||
 III | 2 (6.9) | 1 (10.0) | 1 (5.3) | 0.42 |
 IVA | 26 (89.6) | 8 (80.0) | 18 (94.7) |  |
 IVB | 1 (3.5) | 1 (10.0) | 0 |  |
Grade | ||||
 1 | 1 (3.5) | 0 | 1 (5.3) | 0.44 |
 2 | 9 (31.0) | 5 (50.0) | 4 (21.1) |  |
 3 | 9 (31.0) | 2 (20.0) | 7 (36.8) |  |
 Unknown | 10 (34.5) | 3 (30.0) | 7 (36.8) |  |
p16 status | ||||
 Positive | 14 (48.3) | 3 (30.0) | 11 (57.9) | 0.99 |
 Negative | 1 (3.4) | 0 | 1 (5.3) |  |
 Unknown | 14 (48.3) | 7 (70.0) | 7 (36.8) |  |