The treatment of carcinomas of the soft palate most often involves radiotherapy. In order to assess the value of irradiation, notably in the treatment of limited T1 or T2 tumours, a retrospective study was carried out of 76 case records suitable for analysis of patients treated in our hospital for this type of tumour between 1974 and 1987. There were 70 men and 6 women. The mean age was 54 years. Fifty-four patients had limited T1 or T2 tumours (including 40 without lymphadenopathy). Treatment methods varied but 48/76 were treated by radiotherapy only (transcutaneous irradiation and/or local interstitial implant). Local tumour control was obtained in 87% of patients with T1 tumours, in 77% with T2 and in 50% with T3 tumours. Lymph node control was obtained in 68% of patients. None of the patients initially classified NO showed any subsequent lymph node involvement. The actuarial five-year survival rate was 67% for T1, 38% for T2 and 22% for T3. Lymph node involvement was the only other prognostic factor. Fourteen patients developed distant metastases and 13% had at least one other tumour site. Radiotherapy as tumour treatment is thus felt to be the method most widely used apart from tumours strictly limited to the uvula, where surgery is preferred. Cervical lymph nodes are treated surgically when there is a palpable lymphadenopathy and by radiotherapy for N0 patients. Induction chemotherapy before radiotherapy is used in addition at stages T3 and T4.