The authors study the Time of Progression of Symptoms and Signs (TPSS) before diagnosis and treatment in 733 carcinomas of the pharyngo-larynx and 233 carcinomas of the piriform fossa. They show that for a given tumour stage (lymph node: clinical and histological), the longer the TPSS, the better the vital prognosis, the better the local and lymph node prognosis (results statistically significant). By contrast, the TPSS has no influence in the development of metastases nor in the occurrence of second tumour sites. In the opinion of the authors, TPSS, based upon routine questioning is the clinical reflection of cell division and of tumours growth. The treatment of these carcinomas whould be modified in the light of the TPSS. The value of chemotherapy used before surgery and radiotherapy is discussed in carcinomas with a short TPSS, less than 3 months, these being tumours with a rapid course with a particularly unfavourable vital, local and lymphatic prognosis.