From December 1965 to December 1987 (22 years), 279 patients with histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the lip were treated in this Department with roentgenotherapy. All the patients that had completed the treatment were evaluated with a follow-up time of 5 years (n = 255). Distribution by age, sex, occupation, residence, evolution time of the lesion, localization (upper lip, lower lip and commissure), tumor size and histological grade were analysed. In what concerns technical conditions and fractionation, we evaluated the type of acute reactions and the dose of radiation which elicited them as well as the results of radiotherapy (local and cosmetic control). A relation is made between the size of the lesion and outcome after treatment. The survival rate at 3 years was 76.6% and at 5 years (the usual follow-up period for these patients) 66%. Disease-free survival rate at 3 years was 79% and at 5 years 77.6%.