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The survival rate of patients suffering from malignant epithelial tumours of the oral cavity and oropharynx remains at present discouragingly low. According to various publications which have appeared in the last few years, it would seem that it is possible to achieve improved results in this field by giving radiation therapy of 40-50 Gy prior to radical surgery. With the application of modern techniques in radiotherapeutics, the incidence of serious post-operative complications in areas of tissue previously irradiated is nowadays very slight. Due to the fact that during radiotherapy the neoplasma either reduces in volume or even disappears completely, its limits must be recorded without fail before treatment is begun. Explanation of the therapeutical concept and initial results.