Radiation Therapy Following Surgery in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Second Primary Cancer of the Head and Neck Following Previous Radiation Therapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the mucosa, recurrent (primary and/or nodal), or a second primary (positive or negative nodal), of one of the following: * Oral cavity * Oropharynx * Hypopharynx * Larynx * Paranasal sinus * Neck disease of unknown origin * No distant metastases * No primary in the nasopharynx * Must have complete gross resection of disease * Must have positive final margins, soft tissue extension of primary, positive extracapsular extension of lymph node disease, or at least 4 positive nodes without extracapsular extension * Reirradiation field must overlap the previous field for a minimum of 3 cm in height, width, and length * At least 6 months since prior radiotherapy with an overlap volume of at least 45 Gy * No grade 3 or 4 toxicity for the following organ tissues: * RTOG grade 3 or 4 skin, subcutaneous tissue, larynx, joint, or RTOG grade 4 mucous membrane or bone from prior radiotherapy * Radiotherapy must begin within 6-12 weeks of surgery * Prior radiotherapy records must be available PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: * At least 3 months Hematopoietic: * Not specified Hepatic: * Not specified Renal: * Not specified Other: * Not pregnant * No history of invasive malignancy that would be expected to cause death within 3 years PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * No…