Long-term clinical outcomes of supracricoid partial laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy for glottic carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Laryngeal carcinoma should be treated with the intent of organ-sparing, and supracricoid partial laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP) might be an important option.

Aims/objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of glottic carcinoma patients treated with CHEP.

Materials and methods: A series of 164 cases with glottic carcinoma undergoing CHEP from 2006 to 2010 was retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The 10-year overall survival (OS) rate, disease-specific survival (DSS) rate, and disease-free survival (DFS) rate were 77.6%, 78.8%, 74.1%, respectively. The OS, DSS, and DFS of patients with stage T1 were higher than patients with stages T2 and T3. Patients with locoregional recurrence and distant metastases had lower OS and DFS than patients with neither recurrence nor metastasis. The DFS of patients with advanced laryngeal carcinoma was worse than that of patients with early-stage carcinoma. T2 and T3 stages, locoregional recurrence, and distant metastases had predictive value regarding patient survival. Additionally, the decannulation rate of postoperative patients was 95.1%, and the nasogastric feeding tube removal rate was 100%.

Conclusions and Significance: CHEP provided reliable oncologic and functional outcomes, and it should be considered as a standard function-sparing option for glottic T1b, T2, and selected T3 carcinoma patients.     

Conservation surgery for T2 and T3 carcinomas of the supraglottic larynx

The treatment of choice for supraglottic carcinomas of intermediate size (stages T2 and T3) remains controversial. Between 1974 and 1983 in our institution, 139 patients with supraglottic carcinoma of intermediate size were judged retrospectively to have been technically amenable to conservation surgery. Primary disease control at three years was achieved in 100% of the patients treated by supraglottic laryngectomy, 91% (34 patients) of those treated by total laryngectomy, and 69% (81 patients) of those treated by radiotherapy. Of the latter group, 62% were salvaged by total laryngectomy yielding a net three-year local control of 85%. Determinate five-year survival rates were 89% for supraglottic laryngectomy, 78% for total laryngectomy, and 70% for radiotherapy. Significant problems with aspiration occurred in four patients (16%) who were treated by conservation surgery, and two patients (8%) required a permanent tracheostomy. The results of this study show that supraglottic laryngectomy with postoperative radiotherapy as indicated is a highly effective method for the local control of supraglottic carcinoma of intermediate size that is amenable to conservation surgery.     

Outcome of the treatment for laryngeal carcinoma by partial laryngectomies

The aim of the study was to retrospectively evaluate the results of treatment for early laryngeal carcinoma in a group of 325 patients who underwent from 1980 to 1997 partial laryngectomies. The most often type of operation was cordectomy--51.1%, then frontolateral/frontoanterior laryngectomy--20.9%, vertical laryngectomy--15.1%, supraglottic horizontal laryngectomy--8%, hemilaryngectomy--4.9%. Estimate of survival time, from surgery to first oncologic failure, was obtained with the life-table method. As a failure we considered local and regional recurrence, distant metastasis, second primary neoplasm and spread of disease. The probability of disease-free survival for all partial laryngectomies reached 81.5%, 79.5% and 60.3% at 3, 5 and over 5 years, respectively. The rates of five-year and over 5 year disease-free survival for each type of operation were: for cordectomy--82.3% and 72.3%, for frontolateral/frontoanterior laryngectomy--74.0% and 45.2%, for vertical laryngectomy--87.6% and 60.6%, for hemilaryngectomy--86.2% and 59.7%, for supraglottic horizontal laryngectomy--53.8% and 29.9%, respectively. The comparison between survival rates, by the log-rank test, revealed statistical difference between supraglottic horizontal laryngectomy and following operations: cordectomy (p < 0.001), vertical laryngectomy (p < 0.01), hemilaryngectomy (p < 0.05). The differences between other types of laryngectomy were not significant statistically. The best results in treatment of laryngeal carcinoma by partial laryngectomies were achieved by operations in vertical plane (cordectomy, vertical laryngectomy and hemilaryngectomy), the less positive--by operations in horizontal plane (supraglottic horizontal laryngectomy).     

保留杓状软骨喉次全切除喉功能重建的体会

探讨应用保留杓状软骨的喉次全切除喉功能重建术治疗Ｔ３喉癌的拔管率和３、５年生存率。方法对２０例Ｔ３级喉癌,其中声门型３例,声门上型１７例,根据病变范围行保留单侧或双侧杓状软骨喉次全切除及功能重建术,并设计环咽吻合术式。     

Clinical outcomes of end-flexible-rigidscopic transoral surgery (E-TOS) in patients with T1-selected T3 pharyngeal and supraglottic cancers

Background: Endoscopic laryngo-pharyngeal surgery (ELPS), which is a transoral minimally invasive surgery using a gastrointestinal endoscope and a curved laryngopharyngeal retractor, is effective to treat primary lesions of superficial laryngopharyngeal cancers. To extend concepts of ELPS to invasive laryngopharyngeal cancers, we developed end-flexible-rigidscopic transoral surgery (E-TOS) from ELPS by changing a gastrointestinal endoscope to a flexible-tip rigid endoscope.

Aims/Objectives: To retrospectively evaluate oncological outcomes and laryngopharyngeal functional preservation of E-TOS in patients with T1-selected T3 laryngopharyngeal cancers.

Material and methods: In 47 patients T1-selected T3 pharyngeal and supraglottic cancers were resected by E-TOS using the flexible-tip rigid endoscope and curved instruments. Negative resection margin was histopathologically evaluated. The survival, preservation of larynx, and disease control rates were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: Curative resection was achieved in 94% of patients. No patient complained prolonged swallowing dysfunction or hoarseness after E-TOS. Postoperative bleeding, stenosis of the pharynx and esophageal entrance, and local recurrence was observed each in one patient. The 3-year overall survival, disease-specific survival, laryngeal preservation, local control, and locoregional control rates were, 86%, 93%, 100%, 98%, and 79%, respectively.

Conclusion: E-TOS is an effective minimally invasive surgery for T1-selected T3 pharyngeal and supraglottic cancers with preserving laryngeal function.     

保留喉功能的T3期声门上喉癌的手术治疗

目的：探讨T3期声门上喉癌喉功能保留手术的可行性、技术操作和临床疗效。方法：回顾性分析1994～2003年收治的T3期声门上癌70例，均行喉功能保留手术，其中喉声门上水平部分切除术42例，喉声门上水平垂直部分切除术19例，喉环状软骨上部分切除术8例，喉近全切除术1例。以胸骨舌骨肌肌筋膜瓣、颈阔肌肌皮瓣、双蒂接力肌甲状软骨膜瓣、甲状软骨膜瓣等修复喉腔组织缺损，重建喉功能。全部患者均接受术后放疗（剂量50～60Gy）。结果：3年生存率为79．2％，5年生存率为68．4％。70例患者中已拔管60例，拔管率为85．7％。全部患者均恢复经口进食，无明显呛咳及吞咽困难。所有患者均发声成功，无一例因喉腔闭锁而致发声失败。结论：T3期声门上癌虽属晚期喉癌，但只要严格掌握适应证，熟练运用多种修复方法，提高外科手术技巧，保留喉功能是可行的。     

Role of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy for locally advanced laryngeal cancer: a meta-analysis

Background: Studies have shown mixed results on the role of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (PORT) in surgically managed locally advanced laryngeal cancer.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to review and investigate the role of PORT in patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer using meta-analysis.

Materials and methods: Relevant studies were searched using PubMed and eligible information has been extracted. Then, meta-analysis of hazard ratio (HR) was performed to evaluate the role of PORT in locally advanced laryngeal cancer.

Results: This meta-analysis included 7 published studies containing 2007 patients. For overall survival (OS), patients of locally advanced laryngeal cancer who were treated with PORT have a combined hazard ratio (HR) of 0.67 with 95%CI (0.56, 0.79), compared to those who were not treated with PORT, which was significantly associated with better survival. PORT was also associated with a better disease-free survival (DFS) and local control rate (LCR) in patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer. The pooled HR and 95%CI for DFS and LCR were 0.72 (0.53, 0.99) and 0.29 (0.09, 0.99), respectively.

Conclusions and significance: This study suggested that PORT could improve the survival of patients with surgically managed locally advanced laryngeal cancer.     

Salvage surgery after radiotherapy for laryngeal cancer: from endoscopic resections to open-neck partial and total laryngectomies

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate our experience in management of radiotherapy failure using endoscopic resection (ER) with carbon dioxide laser, open-neck partial laryngectomy (ONPL), and total laryngectomy. DESIGN: Retrospective medical record review. SETTING: Referral university hospital. PATIENTS: Seventy-one patients with laryngeal cancer previously treated with radiotherapy (69 patients) and chemoradiotherapy (2 patients) underwent salvage surgery. INTERVENTIONS: The treatment policy encompassed ER for glottic rT1a, rT1b with limited anterior commissure involvement, and rT2 with normal cord mobility carcinoma. All ONPLs were performed for rT1 and rT2 tumors with suboptimal endoscopic exposure, rT2 tumors with impaired cord mobility or transcommissural extension, and rT3 tumors for limited paraglottic space invasion or involvement of the inner portion of the thyroid cartilage. Total laryngectomy was planned in patients who were not suitable for partial laryngectomy owing to poor general condition, for rT3 carcinoma with massive involvement of the paraglottic space, and for rT4a tumors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical, radiologic, surgical, and pathologic data. Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Comparisons between different variables were performed using the log-rank test. RESULTS: Salvage surgery consisted of ER in 22 patients, ONPL in 15, and total laryngectomy in 34. The pT category after salvage surgery was pT1 in 12 patients, pT2 in 20, pT3 in 20, and pT4a in 19. Five-year disease-specific and disease-free survival and laryngeal preservation for the entire series were 72%, 61%, and 40%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Survival rates for the entire series were not different from those previously reported using a more aggressive surgical approach without attempts at organ preservation. The laryngeal preservation rate justifies conservative treatment in the presence of limited recurrent lesions.     

保留杓状软骨喉次全切除喉功能重建的体会

目的　探讨应用保留杓状软骨的喉次全切除喉功能重建术治疗T3 喉癌 (声门及声门上型 )的拔管率和 3、5年生存率。方法　对 2 0例T3 级喉癌 ,其中声门型 3例 (T3 N0 M0 )、声门上型 17例(T3 N1 M0 5例 ,T3 N0 M0 12例 ) ,根据病变范围行保留单侧或双侧杓状软骨喉次全切除及功能重建术 ,并设计环咽吻合术式。结果　 3、5年生存率分别为 16/ 17(94 1% )和 11/ 12 (91 8% )。全部患者均恢复了吞咽和发音功能 ,拔管率为 95 0 %。结论　保留杓状软骨喉次全切除及功能重建术是治疗T3 喉癌的一种很好术式。手术的关键是不能损伤杓状软骨及喉返神经 ,设计好环咽吻合方案。     

Management of the N0 Neck During Salvage Laryngectomy

Background: Radiotherapy is effective treatment for laryngeal carcinoma. Early-stage laryngeal carcinoma has a low incidence of cervical metastasis. Patients initially clinically N0 usually remain N0 when they fail at the primary site. The incidence of subclinical metastasis in these patients is not well described. Watchful waiting or elective neck dissections are advocated. Objective: Examine the incidence of subclinical metastatic disease in patients undergoing elective neck dissections with salvage laryngectomy. Study Design: Prospective study (1991–1996) of patients who failed radiotherapy and underwent salvage laryngectomy with elective neck dissection. Methods: Thirty-four patients underwent salvage laryngectomy with neck dissection (30 bilateral, 4 unilateral). All were clinically N0 at initial presentation and remained N0 at recurrence. Pathologic study of the neck dissection specimens was undertaken. Patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years (mean, 4 y). Results: The male-to-female ratio was 4.5:1, with a mean age of 62 years (range, 38 to 75 y). Metastatic disease was present in 6 patients (17%); 4 of 14 (28%) supraglottis and 2 of 20 (10%) glottic. Presence of disease in the neck according to stage at recurrence was as follows: T2, 2 of 12; T3, 3 of 14; and T4, 2 of 8. Neck disease was ipsilateral in 4 and contralateral in 2 patients (both supraglottic primaries). Conclusions: Subclinical cervical metastasis may be present in N0 laryngeal carcinoma patients who have recurrence following radiotherapy. Morbidity of a lateral neck dissection is minimal, with excellent control of the neck being possible. Supraglottic and advanced glottic (T3-T4) patients may benefit the most.     

Supraglottic laryngectomy: analysis of 267 cases

Horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy (HSL) allows the preservation of a functioning larynx and avoids permanent tracheotomy. In this retrospective study we report our experience with HSL and describe the functional and oncological results of the procedure. A total of 267 previously untreated patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottis underwent a supraglottic laryngectomy at our Department from January 1978 to May 2002. The main outcome measures were: local and regional control, disease-specific survival and laryngeal preservation rate. The overall recurrence rate was 29% (78/267). The local recurrence rate was 8% (22 patients) and the regional recurrence rate was 17% (45 patients). The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 73%. The 5-year laryngeal preservation rate was 82%. Multivariate analysis showed two parameters that were independent predictors of a reduced disease specific survival: cervical lymph node metastases of class N3 (P = 0.0003) and primary tumour classified as T4 (P = 0.004). HSL provided, in our experience, an optimal locoregional oncological control for laryngeal preservation.     

Partial laryngectomy for recurrent laryngeal carcinoma

From July 1975 to January 1998, 33 patients underwent partial laryngeal resection for residual or recurrent tumour after primary radical radiotherapy. Sixteen patients had T1 tumours on presentation, 14 were T2 and three were T3. Six patients underwent a supraglottic (horizontal) laryngectomy, 24 had a vertical partial laryngectomy, two had an endoscopic laser resection and one had an endoscopic laser resection followed by a vertical partial laryngectomy. The median time interval between radiotherapy and salvage surgery was 10 months (range 2-188 months). The median follow-up period was 41 months (range 12-185 months). There were five major postoperative complications (15%); two patients developed a pharyngeal fistula and three required further surgery for laryngo-tracheal stenosis. Twenty-five patients (76%) retained their larynx with satisfactory speech and swallowing. Eight patients (24%) had to be converted to a total laryngectomy, seven for recurrent disease and one for laryngeal stenosis. Of the eight patents converted, seven had normal swallowing and six developed good tracheo-oesophageal speech. Seven patients (21%) developed recurrent tumour after partial laryngectomy and were subjected to total laryngectomy; six of these seven were salvaged. Only one of the 33 patients died with recurrent tumour, giving an ultimate disease-related survival of 97%. Conservation laryngeal surgery for salvage of selected patients who fail radical radiation therapy is safe, effective, and results in reasonable preservation of laryngeal function.     

205例喉癌的手术方式与远期疗效分析

目的分析1990年以来喉癌手术治疗的方法及其远期疗效，以改进治疗并提高生存率。方法对1990年1月-2004年10月间手术治疗的205例病例进行临床随访、病历资料分析。其中声门上型52例，声门型149例，声门下型4例；按UICC 1997年分期标准Ⅰ期48例，Ⅱ期88例，Ⅲ期44例，Ⅳ期25例。行支撑喉镜下声带切除术1例，撕皮术2例，喉裂开声带切除术9例，未行气管切开的喉垂直部分切除术16例，喉垂直部分切除术25例，水平半喉切除术7例，Arslan（咽气管吻合）手术15例，环舌骨会套固定术（criicohyoidoepidottopexy，CHEP）57例，喉次全切除术16例，喉全切除术57例。结果205例仅4例失访，Kaplan—Meier法统计总的1年生存率96．0％，3年生存率84．8％，5年生存率为79．4％，其中声门上型1年生存率88．3％，3年为67．5％，5年为65．0％；声门型1年生存率99．3％，3年为91．3％，5年为84．7％，喉功能保存率72．7％。早期肿瘤（Ⅰ、Ⅱ期）与晚期肿瘤（Ⅲ、Ⅳ期）患者之间生存率差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01），肿瘤不同发病部位（声门型、声门上型）患者之间生存率差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论喉癌手术治疗效果好，喉功能保存率高，其预后与肿瘤分期、发病部位有关。提倡严格掌握手术指征，在保证手术安全边缘的情况下，制定个体化治疗方案，运用最优的手术切除和功能重建方法，综合治疗，提高生存质量。     

Analysis of multicentricity in supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma treated with partial laryngeal surgery

A clinicopathological analysis of multicentricity in patients treated with either supraglottic horizontal laryngectomy or supracricoid partial laryngectomy for supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx was conducted. This study included 63 patients who underwent supracricoid partial laryngectomy or supraglottic horizontal laryngectomy for T2 or T3 supraglottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 included patients with one focus of the tumor (monocentric), and Group 2 included patients who had more than one focus of the tumor (multicentric) diagnosed after pathology examination. Forty-eight (76.2 %) of the patients had one focus of the tumor (Group 1) and 15 (23.8 %) of the patients had more than one focus of the tumor (Group 2). The rates of lymph node metastasis in Group 1 and Group 2 were 12.5 and 60 %, respectively. The second focus was invasive in seven (46.6 %) of the patients, carcinoma in situ in six (40 %) of the patients, and both invasive and carcinoma in situ in two (13.3 %) patients. The overall 3- and 5-year survival rates of Groups 1 and 2 were 77.1–66.7 % and 56.2–46.7 %, respectively. With regard to survival rates, no statistically significant difference was observed between Group 1 and Group 2 (p = 0.576). The lack of statistical significance might have been associated with the low sample size. Although multicentric tumors of the supraglottic larynx have high incidence of nodal metastasis, no significant increase in the rate of recurrence was determined.     

Does Induction Chemotherapy Still Have a Role in Larynx Preservation Strategies? The Experience of Institut Catala d'Oncologia in Stage III Larynx Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin is the standard alternative to total laryngectomy for patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer. The value of induction chemotherapy in larynx-preservation therapies remains unknown. Hyperfractionation radiotherapy might improve disease-free survival. METHODS: From August 1993 to August 2004, 71 patients with T3N0-1 larynx tumors and eligible for total laryngectomy received induction chemotherapy with three cycles of cisplatin plus fluorouracil. Clinical tumor response was assessed by indirect laryngoscopy and computed tomography scan. Patients with complete response received hyperfractionation radiotherapy, whereas those without complete response were proposed for total laryngectomy. RESULTS: A total of 71 consecutive patients were included. Thirty-three patients achieved complete response to induction chemotherapy (46.5%), four of them presented a tumor relapse, and all underwent salvage surgery. Seventy-six percent of surviving patients preserved a functional larynx. Despite not achieving complete response, 15 patients refused total laryngectomy and received hyperfractionation radiotherapy. Seven patients presented a tumor relapse and salvage surgery was performed in three of them. Fifty percent of surviving patients preserved a functional larynx. Twenty-two patients without complete response underwent total laryngectomy; three of them presented a tumor relapse but none could be rescued. With a median follow up of 68 months, 5 five-year overall survival, 5-year disease-free survival, and 5-year larynx function preservation survival rates were 68% (confidence interval [CI], 57-80), 75% (CI, 64-87), and 42% (CI, 29-54), respectively. No differences in overall survival were observed between groups. Five-year disease-free survival of patients without complete response who received hyperfractionation radiotherapy was significantly lower than that of the other two groups (P < .02). Ten patients with larynx preservation and no tumor relapse had chronic toxicity that caused the loss of larynx function: seven patients required permanent tracheotomy, two died from pneumonia, and one patient died as a result of a laryngeal necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with complete response to induction chemotherapy in laryngeal carcinoma have a high probability of cure after hyperfractionation radiotherapy. However, hyperfractionation radiotherapy induces a high degree of toxicity that reduces the laryngeal function preservation rate and may jeopardize overall survival.     

Resultados de un protocolo de preservación de órgano en pacientes con tumores localmente avanzados de la laringe

Introduction and objectivesAdvanced laryngeal carcinoma patients, candidates for total laryngectomy, nowadays have different treatment options. One of them is induction chemotherapy, which allows modulation of the second manoeuvre according to the degree of response achieved. This study presents the results of a large series of patients treated according to this protocol.MethodsRetrospective study of 370 patients with T3-T4 carcinomas of the larynx considered as candidates for total laryngectomy. All patients were treated with the protocol mentioned above.ResultsSeven patients died as a consequence of the treatment with chemotherapy. Among 363 patients finishing chemotherapy, 154 (43 %) achieved complete response and proceeded with radiotherapy. Total laryngectomy was performed in 135 (37 %) non-responders and 74 (20 %) patients were treated with radiotherapy in spite of an incomplete response to chemotherapy. Overall actuarial survival was 73 % at five years. Survival for patients with complete response and treated with radiotherapy was 77 % and for non-responders subjected to total laryngectomy it was 76 %. Non-responders treated with radiotherapy had a 5-year survival rate of 64 %, significantly different to both other groups (p = 0.01). Larynx preservation was achieved in 42 % of the patients, rising to 72 % for complete responders to chemotherapy and to 62 % in non-responders receiving radiotherapy.ConclusionsOur larynx preservation protocol including induction chemotherapy for patients with advanced carcinomas who are candidates for total laryngectomy achieved a total survival rate of 73 % with a 42 % larynx preservation rate. The response to the induction chemotherapy was the factor contributing most to larynx preservation.     

Clinical study on laryngeal cancer

A clinical study was made of 131 patients with laryngeal cancer treated in our department during 13 years from 1975 to 1987. The mean age of patients was 64.8 years, and the male-female ratio was 20.8:1. There were 87 cases of the glottic type, 42 of the supraglottic, and 2 of the subglottic type. Cases in the early stages (stage I, II) predominated in the glottic type, whereas advanced stage tumors (stage III, IV) were predominant in the supraglottic type (chi 2-test, p less than 0.01). Hoarseness was the most frequent complaint in the patients with glottic cancer. The proportion of complaints other than hoarseness, such as sore throat, on the other hand, was significantly higher among patients with supraglottic cancer (chi 2-test, p less than 0.01). There was no significant correlation between stage and duration of complaints until visits to our department. The overall five-year survival rate was 73.8%. The five-year survivals for the glottic and supraglottic type were 84.3 and 54.3% respectively, and for stage I through stage IV were 94.6, 73.7, 58.6, and 36.4%, respectively. In patients classified as T1 or T2, the following treatment is recommended as basic policy: radiotherapy as initial treatment and, if unsuccessful, secondary salvage surgery should be performed. In patients classified as T3 or T4, however, total laryngectomy is recommended as initial treatment. Metastases to cervical lymph nodes were observed in 6 patients with glottic cancer and 14 with supraglottic cancer, and the incidence of cervical lymph node metastases was significantly higher in the supraglottic type (chi 2-test, p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Subtotal laryngectomy with cricohyoidopexy as first treatment procedure for supraglottic carcinoma: Institut Gustave-Roussy experience (146 cases, 1974–1997)

Patients and methods: Between 1974 and 1997, 297 patients underwent a subtotal laryngectomy at the Institut Gustave-Roussy; 146 of these patients underwent cricohyoidopexy (CHP) for a supraglottic primary as their first treatment. The majority of patients were men (137) aged from 33 to 78 years (median 54 years). The tumour stage at presentation was T1 in 2, T2 in 87, T3 in 53 (pre-epiglottic space involvement), and T4 (minimal thyroid cartilage invasion) in 4 patients. One hundred and twenty-five patients were N0 (86%) and 21 patients were Np (palpable); 98% had homolateral and 55% had bilateral neck dissections. Results: One patient died postoperatively of a myocardial infarction and 68% patients had an uneventful course. Aspiration was the commonest complication (23 patients, 19%). The median time to removal of the tracheotomy cannula was 10 days and for the nasogastric tube 21 days during the past 10 years. Completion of subtotal laryngectomy into total laryngectomy was done in 21 cases (15%): eight times because of oncological events [five local failures, two second primary (hypopharynx), one positive margin] and 13 times because of aspiration (9%). There were six local failures (4%) and eight nodal failures (5%). The rates of distant metastases and second primaries were 6% and 16% respectively. Half of the local and nodal failures were subsequently sterilized. Findings at death were two local recurrences, four nodal recurrences, eight distant metastases, and 11 second primaries. The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 92% and 88% respectively, with an overall laryngeal preservation rate of 86%. Conclusion: When supraglottic laryngectomy is not feasible for supraglottic cancer, subtotal laryngectomy with CHP is a safe and effective oncological procedure, with preservation of satisfactory laryngeal function. Received: 20 June 2000 / Accepted: 10 April 2001     

Endoscopic CO2 laser therapy of selected cases of supraglottic marginal tumors

Endoscopic CO₂ laser intervention can be used as conservation surgery for supraglottic laryngeal carcinomas in carefully selected patients. We analyzed retrospectively our experience in managing patients with early supraglottic carcinomas operated on at the Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology, Szeged, Hungary, during the 10-year period between 1987 and 1997. Conservation surgery was the treatment of choice in 187 patients, but only 23 (12%) were selected for endoscopic CO₂ laser surgery. Laser surgery was indicated predominantly for T1 cancer of the epiglottis (n = 15), but was also performed for T2 cancers (n = 8). Of the 23 supraglottic tumors treated, 16 had no signs of recurrence to date (1.5 to 9 years after surgery) a local control rate of 70%. Six patients with recurrences underwent salvage therapies that included repeated laser excisions (n = 3), radiotherapy (to 60 Gy), horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy and total laryngectomy. One patient was not resectable because of multiple metastases. Our experience with endolaryngeal CO₂ laser excision indicates that it is a reasonable method in selected cases of supraglottic tumors, but one-third of the patients required salvage treatment. Recieved: 28 September 1998 / Accepted: 15 March 1999     

Der Vergleich von Sandwichbehandlung und postoperativer Strahlentherapie beim fortgeschrittenen T3 und T4-Karzinom,eine retrospektive Studie über 384 Fälle

Summary With regard to the suggestions of the UICC (1979) we examined the 5-years survival rates of 384 patients with laryngo-pharyngeal T3/4 carcinomas and got the following results:Low dose preoperative irradiation diminishes the rate of local recurrences in supraglottic cancer distinctly and increases the survival rate. But in view of the carcinomas of all laryngeal regions it is equal whether the patient has been irradiated before or after the laryngectomy. More details of this study will be published before long in Ann. Otol.

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Der Vortrag erscheint ausführlich in Laryngol Rhinol Otol