PURPOSETo analyze the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of olfactory neuroblastoma. METHODS From 1974 to 1994. 11 patients with olfactory neuroblastoma were treated in Xinjiang Cancer Hospital. All patients were confirmed histologically. Six cases were stage B and 5, stage C. Five patients were treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy (4. stage B and 1, stage C), and 6. with radiotherapy alone. The tumor dose ranged from 45~68 Gy, 2. 0 Gy/Fx. Neck irradiation with total dose of 60~65 Gy was carried out for 3 patients with cervical lymph node metastases. RESULTS Three patients had local recurrences and 2 cases, distant metastases. The actuarial overall survivals at 3 and 5 year were 55% and 36%, respectively. Three and five year survivals were 33%and 17% for the patients treated with radiotherapy alone, and 80% and 60% for the patients treated with surgery and postoperative irradiation, respectively(P= 0. 2727). CONCLUSION For the patients with stage B and C olfactory neuroblastoma, combined modality of surgery and radiotherapy should be the treatment of choice.