The role of supracricoid laryngectomy for glottic carcinoma recurrence after radiotherapy failure: a critical review

Conclusions.In the near future salvage supracricoid laryngectomy (SCL) will be used more extensively for failures of radiotherapy for glottic carcinoma. Objectives. Primary radiotherapy has been used for patients with early glottic carcinomas in northern Europe and North America for more than half a century. Local recurrences after radiotherapy for glottic malignancies occur in 5–25% for T1 carcinomas and in 15–50% for T2 carcinomas. The classic choice as salvage surgery in cases of glottic squamous cell carcinoma recurrence after irradiation failure is total laryngectomy. The development of extended conservation procedures such as SCL has permitted an increasing number of successful partial laryngectomies that save laryngeal functions after radiotherapy failure. SCL allows the creation of a neo-larynx, permitting both swallowing and speech; in most cases the tracheostoma can be closed. Methods. The electronic database Pubmed was searched without publication date limits. Results. Considering available data (103 cases), 84.5% of the cases treated with salvage SCL for irradiation failure did not present a new local recurrence; laryngeal recurrences after salvage SCL (15.5%) were successfully treated with total laryngectomy in 66.7% of the cases. Tracheostoma closure was possible in all except two cases after a mean period ranging between 12 and 28 days. Swallowing results seemed good, with longer recovery time in irradiated than in non-irradiated patients who underwent SCL. Voice quality determined with psychoacoustic methods had acceptable intelligibility.     

Oncologic and functional outcomes of salvage supracricoid partial laryngectomy

Abstract

Background: Supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCL) can have a positive impact on patients’ quality of life by circumventing dysphagia and voice problems resulting from creation of a permanent stoma after conventional total laryngectomy (TL) surgery.

Aims/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the oncologic and functional outcomes of salvage SCL for recurrent laryngeal carcinoma.

Material and methods: Forty-five patients that underwent salvage surgery for recurrent laryngeal carcinoma between January 2004 and May 2015 after initial treatment failure were included in this retrospective study.

Results: Overall survival and disease free survival were non-significantly higher in the salvage SCL group (n?=?14) than in the salvage TL group (n?=?31) (87.5 versus 56.5%, 53.4 versus 41.9%). Multivariate analyses showed only positive resection margin to be significantly associated with survival and recurrence (HR 9.974, p?=?.007, and HR 9.196, p?=?.002, respectively). In the salvage SCL group, 92.8% achieved successful decannulation and all patients returned to an oral diet. All patients in the salvage TL group sustained a permanent stoma and conversation was possible only through esophageal voice or a voice prosthesis. 74.2% of patients in the group were able to tolerate an oral diet.

Conclusions and significance: Salvage SCL showed comparable oncologic outcomes and favorable functional outcomes relative to the classic salvage TL. This study could provide a sufficient basis of SCL as salvage treatment for recurrent laryngeal carcinoma in selected patients.     

声门型喉癌部分喉切除术后复发原因探讨及预防

目的：探讨声门型喉癌术后复发的原因，提出有效的防治措施。方法：对我院191年8月－2001年8月收的46例声门型喉癌部分喉切除术后复发病例进行回顾性分析，对原发肿瘤的部位、手术方式及复发肿瘤的部位进行了分析。结果：46例首次复发声门型喉癌病例中，局部复发32例，其中喉内第二原发病变致术后局部复发13例，占40．6％（13／32）。颈部复发14例，其中上颈部是颈部复发的重要部位，占42．9％（6／14）。喉内局部复发再次手术治疗后第2次复发的9例中，上颈部和局部复发仍是主要的复发部位，占55．6％（5／9）。结论：正确处理晚期声门型喉癌和喉内局部复发癌的上颈部淋巴结及正确认识声门型喉癌内第二原发病变并作相应的处理是降低声门型喉癌术后复发的重要措施。     

CO2激光手术治疗声门上型喉癌

目的 总结CO2激光手术治疗声门上型喉癌的临床治疗效果.方法 回顾性分析1995年2月至2005年6月CO2激光手术治疗的32例声门上型喉癌患者临床资料.32例患者中T1N0M0 20例,T1N1M0 2例,T2N0M0 8例,T2N1M0 2例,全部病例术后随诊3年以上.喉部肿瘤均经口行激光手术,同期行择区性(Ⅱ-Ⅳ区)颈清扫术12例,改良全颈清扫术4例.结果 KaplanMeier法统计5年生存率为90.6%,其中T1病变5年生存率为95.6%,T2病变为78.2%.喉的局部控制率为96.8%;喉局部和颈部区域5年控制率为90.3%,其中T1病变5年局部区域控制率为90.9%,T2病变为89.0%.喉部局部复发2例,1例再治疗行喉水平垂直部分切除术,1例行喉全切除术.颈部区域复发2例,其中1例喉部复发伴颈淋巴转移,再治疗后存活;1例颈部复发,治疗后再次颈部复发并伴肺转移死亡.4例患者出现较轻并发症,保守治疗后好转.除1例患者因局部复发行喉全切除外,其余存活患者喉功能良好.结论 激光治疗早期声门上型喉癌创伤小、疗效可靠,是一种理想的治疗方式.     

The role of supracricoid laryngectomy for glottic carcinoma recurrence after radiotherapy failure: a critical review

CONCLUSIONS: In the near future salvage supracricoid laryngectomy (SCL) will be used more extensively for failures of radiotherapy for glottic carcinoma. OBJECTIVES: Primary radiotherapy has been used for patients with early glottic carcinomas in northern Europe and North America for more than half a century. Local recurrences after radiotherapy for glottic malignancies occur in 5-25% for T1 carcinomas and in 15-50% for T2 carcinomas. The classic choice as salvage surgery in cases of glottic squamous cell carcinoma recurrence after irradiation failure is total laryngectomy. The development of extended conservation procedures such as SCL has permitted an increasing number of successful partial laryngectomies that save laryngeal functions after radiotherapy failure. SCL allows the creation of a neo-larynx, permitting both swallowing and speech; in most cases the tracheostoma can be closed. METHODS: The electronic database Pubmed was searched without publication date limits. RESULTS: Considering available data (103 cases), 84.5% of the cases treated with salvage SCL for irradiation failure did not present a new local recurrence; laryngeal recurrences after salvage SCL (15.5%) were successfully treated with total laryngectomy in 66.7% of the cases. Tracheostoma closure was possible in all except two cases after a mean period ranging between 12 and 28 days. Swallowing results seemed good, with longer recovery time in irradiated than in non-irradiated patients who underwent SCL. Voice quality determined with psychoacoustic methods had acceptable intelligibility.     

Resultados oncológicos de la laringectomía de rescate en pacientes con carcinomas escamosos de laringe

ObjectiveTo analyse the oncological results of a salvage total laryngectomy in patients with a laryngeal carcinoma.Material and methodsRetrospective review of a cohort of 241 patients treated with a salvage laryngectomy after a local recurrence. The initial treatment received by these patients was radiotherapy (n = 201, 83.4%), chemoradiotherapy (n = 19, 7.9%), and partial surgery (n = 21, 8.7%),ResultsTotal laryngectomy as salvage treatment achieved local control of the disease in 81.3% of cases, with a 5-year specific survival of 65.3%. The variables related with specific survival in a univariate analysis were the location of the primary tumour, the local extension of the initial tumour and of the recurrence, the resection margins, and the pathological status of the neck dissections. According to the results of a multivariate analysis, the variables related to specific survival were the status of the resection margins, the presence of simultaneous regional recurrence, and the local extension of the recurrence.ConclusionThe 5-year specific survival of patients treated with a salvage laryngectomy was 65.3%. The variables related with the control of the disease were the status of the resection margins, the presence of simultaneous regional recurrence and the local extension of the recurrence.     

喉部分切除术后复发癌的外科挽救治疗

目的 分析喉部分切除术后喉复发癌的外科治疗方法、预后及影响预后的因素.方法 回顾分析中国医学科学院肿瘤医院头颈外科77例喉部分切除患者术后喉复发癌再行外科挽救治疗的临床资料.其中51例行喉全切除术,26例行喉部分切除术,其中19例无放疗史者行手术加放疗的综合治疗.Kaplan-Meier法统计生存率,Cox多因素分析影...     

Local recurrences following transoral laser surgery for early glottic carcinoma: frequency, management, and outcome

Although transoral laser surgery (TLS) for the treatment of early stage glottic carcinoma is now widely used, the patterns of local recurrences, related re-treatment methods, and results have not been documented comprehensively. Two hundred fifty-two patients with glottic carcinoma stage I or II were treated for cure with TLS alone and followed up for 24 to 139 months (mean, 62 months). Their charts were retrospectively reviewed to identify local recurrence patterns. Thirty-five patients (13.9%) presented with local recurrences or second laryngeal primaries 4 to 84 months (mean, 23 months) after initial treatment. Of the 161 patients classified T1N0M0, 21 (13.0%) suffered local recurrences, and in the 91 classified T2N0M0, 14 (15.4%) tumors recurred. If tumors recurring more than 60 months after initial treatment are considered second primary tumors rather than recurrences, then only 18 (11.2%) of 161 patients classified T1N0M0 would have had a recurrence. However, the difference in local control between patients with stage I versus stage II disease would still not be significant (p = .41). Of the 35 patients with local recurrences, 16 (45%) were managed with total laryngectomy, 10 (28.6%) with further TLS, 4 (11.4%) with partial laryngectomy, and 2 (5.7%) with radiotherapy, and 3 (8.6%) had no curative treatment. Accordingly, 16 patients (45.7%) with local treatment failure could be treated with further organ-sparing treatment methods. The actuarial overall survival, disease-specific survival, and organ preservation rates 5 years after the diagnosis of recurrent disease were 43.6%, 74.6%, and 33.7%. Transoral laser surgery leads to local control rates that are comparable to those found after radiotherapy for lesions classified T1 and leads to slightly better control rates for lesions classified T2, but the results are inferior to those achieved with conventional partial laryngectomy. However, if local recurrence occurs, then more re-treatment options are available after TLS as compared to initial radiotherapy or open surgery.     

Salvage surgery after failure of nonsurgical therapy for carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx

BACKGROUND: For larynx preservation, radiotherapy is gaining popularity for primary treatment of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer, reserving surgery for salvage. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the outcome of salvage surgery after failure of primary radiotherapy. DESIGN: Nine-year retrospective outcome analysis. SETTING: University referral center. PATIENTS: Fifty-four patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (n = 39) or hypopharynx (n = 15). RESULTS: For laryngeal cancer, mean interval from radiation to detection of recurrence was 14.5 months (range, 2-66 months). Twenty-three patients (59%) presented with a more advanced tumor stage after radiation than at the initial evaluation. Total laryngectomy was needed in 36 patients (92%). Disease-specific 5-year survival rate was 63%. Survival of patients with small recurrent tumors was statistically significantly better than those with advanced tumors (P =.004). For hypopharyngeal cancer, mean interval from radiation to detection of the recurrence was 10.6 months (range, 3-40 months). Total laryngopharyngectomy was needed in 8 of 9 patients with local recurrrence; neck dissection, in 6 patients with regional recurrence. Disease-specific 5-year survival rate was only 20%. Recurrent tumor and node stages did not influence the outcome. Patients with regional recurrences did no better than those with local ones. CONCLUSIONS: Salvage surgery in laryngeal cancer achieves good results, especially for small recurrences. Because of tumor progression, larynx preservation is seldom possible at the time of salvage. Salvage surgery in hypopharyngeal cancer shows poor survival regardless of tumor stage and despite radical surgical procedures, and can be recommended only for carefully selected patients. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000;126:1473-1477     

Supracricoid laryngectomy as salvage surgery after failure of radiation therapy

Supracricoid laryngectomy can be an alternative in selected patients with a local recurrence after radiotherapy when endoscopic treatment or more conservative external approaches are not indicated. In this study, we reviewed our experience in patients who underwent salvage supracricoid laryngectomies for local recurrence following radiotherapy. Between 1997 and 2005, salvage supracricoid laryngectomy was performed in nine consecutive patients. The primary tumour was located in the glottis in eight cases and in the supraglottis in one case. The reconstruction method consisted of a cricohyoidoepiglottopexy in six cases and a cricohyoidopexy in three. One patient died of a complication associated to salvage treatment and another died as a consequence of a new recurrence of the laryngeal tumour. All patients were decannulated and recovered the ability to swallow. The mean cannulation and nasogastric feeding tube times were 11 and 27 days, respectively. The mean hospitalisation time was 34 days. Six patients had wound healing complications, all of which were solved without further surgery. Laryngeal function was preserved in 78% of the patients treated. In conclusion, supracricoid laryngectomy is an effective technique as salvage treatment in selected cases of local recurrence after radiotherapy and it can be an alternative to total laryngectomy when other methods of salvage conservation laryngeal surgery are not indicated.     

显微喉镜CO2激光喉癌切除术的远期疗效观察

目的：观察显微喉镜下CO2激光手术治疗早期喉癌的远期疗效和生存质量。方法：对20例喉癌患者在显微喉镜下行CO2激光手术。全部病例通过电话、书信和来院复诊等形式随访5～8年。结果：20例患者中,1例术后1年死于局部复发,1例术后2年局部复发行部分喉切除术,1例术后5年出现颈部淋巴结转移行二期颈廓清术,其余17例术后随访5～8年未见复发。5年总治愈率为85％,生存率为95％,局部复发率为10%,局部淋巴结转移率为5％。所有存活者呼吸通畅,发声良好,其中8例完全恢复日常工作,5例经常从事家务劳动,4例有时从事家务劳动。结论：T1及更早期的声门区和声门上区喉癌适合显微喉镜CO2激光手术,其5年生存率及生存质量令人满意,是治疗早期喉癌的较好选择。     

Supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglotto-pexy or cricohyoido-pexy: experience on 32 patients

OBJECTIVE: Supracricoid laryngectomy (SCL) with Cricohyoidoepiglotto-pexy (CHEP) or Cricohyoido-pexy (CHP) is an organ preservation surgery indicated for early and selected advanced laryngeal cancers. To verify the clinical usefulness of supracricoid laryngectomy versus total laryngectomy, a retrospective review was conducted. METHODS: We summarized the clinical and postoperative data of 32 patients who received SCL over the past 9 years (1997-2005). Five-year survival rate of the SCL patient group (29 cases) was compared with that of the patient group receiving total laryngectomy (35 cases) within the same period. RESULTS: Wound infection was detected in 12 patients (38%). Those with severe infection, which required surgical intervention, included two cases of ruptured pexis and two cases showing cricoid cartilage necrosis induced by Forestier disease. There were two T4 cases that resulted in extensive excision. In one case, excision involved the posterior part of the cricoid cartilage resulting in insufficient closure of the neoglottis; the patient received total laryngectomy 30 months after SCL-CHEP because of persistent aspiration of liquid diet. In the other T4 case, the tumor invaded the thyroid and arytenoid cartilages but not the cricoid cartilage. Reposition of the remaining corniculate cartilage resulted in sufficient closure of the neoglottis; this patient subsequently acquired satisfactory laryngeal function. The 5-year overall survival rate was 86% for SCL group and 61% for the total laryngectomy group (limited to Stages III and IV glottic cancers). The causes of the four deaths were distant metastasis, neck metastasis, and intercurrent disease, respectively. Two patients are alive with distant disease. CONCLUSION: Through our experience in this series, the functional and oncological results of SCL showed certain advantages over those of total laryngectomy. Particularly, the clinical impact of SCL-CHEP was impressive; this technique needs is recommended to both head and neck surgeons and patients.     

喉癌治疗后复发的临床因素分析及治疗

目的 探讨喉癌治疗后复发的临床因素以及诊断与治疗。方法 应用χ2检验以及logistic多因素回归分析方法分析114例喉癌的临床复发因素并分析其中23例复发喉癌的临床资料。结果 χ2检验统计结果显示,喉癌术后复发与原发肿瘤部位、分化程度以及T分期有关,与首次手术方式无关;Logestic多因素回归分析显示,切缘阳性是喉癌复发的高危因素。23例复发性喉癌中,喉癌局部复发13例,颈淋巴结转移7例,局部复发并颈淋巴结转移3例。治疗采取放疗、部分喉切除、（扩大）全喉切除及(或)颈廓清术。局部复发组随访5年13例中8例生存,3例死亡,2例失访;颈淋巴结转移组7例中4例生存,2例死亡,1例失访;局部复发并颈淋巴结转移3例,1例存活,1例死亡,1例失访。结论 喉癌手术后复发与原发肿瘤部位、分化程度、T分期以及阳性切缘有关;喉癌术后定期随访有助于早期明确有无复发;对复发性喉癌的治疗仍以手术为主。     

Supracricoid partial laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy and cricohyoidopexy for glottic and supraglottic carcinomas

OBJECTIVES: To review the patients operated in our department with supracricoid partial laryngectomy with either cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP) (59 cases) or cricohyoidopexy (CHP) (10 cases) technique, for primary or recurrent glottosupraglottic squamous cell carcinoma and compare the technique with other surgical or conservative approaches for treatment of laryngeal carcinoma. METHODS: From hospital charts, we retrospectively reviewed 69 patients who had undergone supracricoid partial laryngectomy with the CHEP or CHP technique between 1983 and 1996 for primary or recurrent glottosupraglottic squamous cell carcinoma in our department. Statistical evaluation of oncological and functional results were conducted. Results were compared with other surgical and conservative treatment for glottosupraglottic carcinoma of the larynx that were published previously in the literature. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients had CHEP or CHP for glottosupraglottic carcinoma of the larynx. Thirteen percent of the patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. Minimum follow-up was 2 years or until death. Five-year actuarial survival (Kaplan-Meier method) was 68%. Global local control was achieved in 84% of cases. Among previously untreated patients (n = 54), local control rate was 94.5%. After 1 year, 92.7% of patients achieved normal swallowing and respiration. Salvage total laryngectomy had to be performed in four patients (5.7%) for persistent aspiration and in five patients (7.2%), who were previously treated with radiotherapy, for local recurrence. No permanent tracheostomy or gastrostomy was required. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience with supracricoid partial laryngectomy with either CHP or CHEP suggests that this technique is a valuable alternative to radiotherapy for T2-T4 glottosupraglottic carcinomas, particularly those with extension and invasion of the anterior commissure. It allows for preservation of a good laryngeal function without altering the long-term survival, keeping total laryngectomy as a salvage procedure.     

喉全切除术在治疗中晚期喉癌中的应用

目的:探讨喉全切除术治疗中、晚期喉癌的疗效。方法:对573例喉癌患者行喉全切除术,声门上型370例,声门型90例,跨声门型75例,声门下型21例,放疗后复发17例。其中143例行单纯喉全切除术,430例同期行颈廓清术(单侧239例,双侧191例)。在喉全切除术中行气管外口造大孔术,共308例。结果:3、5及10年生存率分别为69.5%(398/573),61.1%(350/573),46.3%(149/322);220例死亡病例中,45.0%(99/220)死于局部复发;22.3%(49/220)死于颈部转移。术腔感染和咽瘘的发生率分别为12.2%,5.2%。16.6%气管外口造大孔术患者气管外口再度狭窄需行Ⅱ期气管外口扩大术或戴套管维持呼吸。13.6%的患者可以行喉部分切除术,由于不同的原因行喉全切除术。结论:喉全切除术作为治疗中、晚期喉癌的主要手段,其适应证随喉癌外科技术的发展而逐渐缩小。在采取积极的颈廓清术情况下,局部复发是主要的死亡原因。     

Supracricoid laryngectomy outcomes: The Johns Hopkins experience

OBJECTIVE: To report the oncologic and functional results from our experience in performing supracricoid laryngectomy (SCL) for selected patients with laryngeal cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: Twenty-four consecutive patients who underwent SCL for laryngeal cancer in our institution from December 2000 to March 2006 have been reviewed. Reports of the site and extent of tumor, type of reconstruction, preoperative or postoperative radiotherapy, and the final histopathologic examination were reviewed. In addition, the reports of the preoperative examination, inpatient course, and postoperative follow-up were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 24 patients were involved in the study; 19 had tumors involving the glottic region, and 5 patients had tumors involving both the glottic and supraglottic regions (transglottic). Ten patients had their SCL for postradiotherapy recurrence/persistence of disease. Eighteen patients underwent reconstruction through cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP), whereas six patients had cricohyoidopexy (CHP). Eleven patients had an arytenoid cartilage resected; 8 of 11 had CHEP, and 3 of 11 had CHP. All patients had a tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement performed at the same time as the SCL. The median hospital stay period was 6 days. Twenty-three of 24 had successful tracheostomy tube decannulation, with a median time to decannulation of 37 days. The median time to removal of the PEG tube was 70 days. The complications with SCL were postoperative wound infection in two patients (SCL/CHP) and the need for completion total laryngectomy secondary to intractable aspiration in one patient with SCL/CHP. One patient with SCL/CHEP had a ruptured pexy and subsequently underwent a second reconstruction with successful tracheostomy and PEG tube removal. One of 24 patients is still PEG tube dependant, and he had postoperative radiotherapy. Fifteen patients underwent concurrent neck dissection. None of the patients had any local or regional recurrence, with a median follow-up period of 3 years. All final surgical margins were negative for tumor invasion. Three patients had postoperative radiotherapy, two patients because of nodal metastases in the excised lymph nodes and one because of perineural invasion on final histopathologic examination of the SCL specimen. There were no perioperative deaths. CONCLUSION: SCL with CHEP or CHP represents an effective technique that can be taught and effectively used to avoid a total laryngectomy while maintaining physiologic speech and swallowing in selected patients with advanced stage primary laryngeal cancer or recurrent/persistent laryngeal cancer after radiotherapy. There is a good functional recovery with acceptable morbidity and an excellent oncologic outcome when strict selection criteria are applied and a formal swallowing rehabilitation program is followed.     

喉癌单纯放疗失败挽救性喉切除术远期疗效及预后分析

目的 探讨喉癌单纯放疗后原发灶及颈部淋巴结残留和复发患者实施挽救性手术治疗的远期疗效及预后影响因素.方法 对72例患者进行回顾性分析,包括:放疗后原发灶及颈部复发22例,放疗后原发灶及颈部残留50例.均实施喉全切除术+经典性颈清扫术或改良性颈清扫术.应用Kaplan-Meier法计算手术后总生存率,采用Log-rank检验单因素分析临床因素对预后的影响,对影响生存率的有关因素采用Cox模型进行多因素分析.结果 实施挽救性手术的并发症发生率41 7%,其中咽瘘发生率20 8%.术后5年内肿瘤再次复发率34 7%(25/72),远处转移率22 2%(16/72),第二原发癌发生率6.9%(5/72).术后的3、5年生存率为45 8%和36 1%.复发癌N分期(rN)、肿瘤放疗失败类型、切缘情况、浸润深度、有无颈淋巴转移、淋巴结包膜侵犯和颈部非淋巴结构侵犯与患者的预后有关(P值均<0.05).多因素分析结果表明:肿瘤放疗失败类型、切缘情况、肿瘤浸润深度是影响患者预后的独立危险因素.结论 喉癌患者单纯放疗失败后应以手术挽救为主.对于术前及术中发现肿瘤侵犯肌肉及软骨的病例,特别是对根治性放疗效果不佳而肿瘤残留者,术中应充分估计肿瘤的范围,并冰冻病理检查切缘,以保证足够的安全切缘,提高挽救性手术的成功率.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate survival outcomes of salvage surgery preformed for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma that recurred or progressed after radiotherapy alone. Methods A review of 72 patients who underwent salvage laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer failed in initial radiation therapy between 1996 and 2005 was performed. The tumor persistence occurred in 50 cases and recurrence in 22 cases. All patients received salvage total laryngectomy and radical neck dissection. Survival analysis was performed by using Kaplan-Meier method, Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model. Results Thirty patients developed a postoperative complication after salvage surgery. Pharyngocutaneous fistula occurred in 15 (20. 8 % ) patients. During 5 years after salvage surgery, the rates of tumor recurrence, distant metastasis and second malignancy were 34.7% , 22. 2% and 6. 9% , respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that overall 3 year and 5 year survival rates of those patients after operation were 45. 8% and 36. 1% ,respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that N restage, tumor persistence/recurrences after radiotherapy,surgical margin status, level of tumor invasion, pathologic N stage, extracapsular nodal spread and invasion of nonlymphatic structures were significantly associated with overall survival. Multivariate analysis showed the most significant prognostic factors were tumor persistence or recurrence after radiotherapy, surgical margin status and level of tumor invasion. Conclusions Surgical salvage remains the gold standard for management after failure of initial radiation therapy. The extent of tumor invasion must be assessed sufficiently before operation, and the surgical margin status must be identified in operation by using a frozen sectioning approach, especially in patients with tumor invasion to muscle/cartilage and tumor persistence after radiotherapy.     

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     

Results of treatment of 584 laryngeal cancers at the Ear-Nose-Throat Clinic of Marburg University

The results in the management of 460 vocal cord carcinomas and 124 supraglottic carcinomas are reported. Of the vocal cord carcinomas, 63.3% were diagnosed in the early Tis and T1 stage. Seventy-six tumors were resected endoscopically, 128 by laryngofissure and chordectomy. Not one of these patients has lost his life, larynx or voice. In bilateral tumors of the T1b category, 2 patients developed local recurrences and lost their larynx. Sixty-two carcinomas of the Tis, T1a and T1b categories were irradiated primarily. Two of these patients died and 14 underwent laryngectomy for local recurrence. In T2 carcinomas a 5-year cure rate of 87.5% was achieved by vertical partial resection. The 5-year cure rate after laryngectomy or laryngectomy with neck dissection for T2N0 and T2N+ carcinoma was 86.2% and 75.0% respectively. Most treatment failures were due to late metastases which could not be controlled. In T3 carcinomas with a 5-year cure rate of 71.4% (N0) and 70.0% (N+) respectively, treatment failures were also mainly seen in patients with N0 necks where we did not carry out a prophylactic neck dissection. Five-year survival rates for primary surgery in supraglottic T1-T4 carcinomas were 100%, 82.4%, 84% and 58.3%. The widely hel opinion that laryngeal carcinoma should only be subjected to surgery for irradiation failure can no longer be sustained. More patients lose their larynx or their life after irradiation of small carcinomas than after primary surgery. Furthermore, too many patients have to undergo two major cancer treatments (irradiation and salvage surgery). In larger carcinomas radiotherapy produces a lower survival rate and too many patients require two stressful cancer therapies. The number of retained larynges is not substantially higher than with primary surgery. Primary irradiation for selected cases should be part of every therapy concept that aims at an adequate and individual treatment of every patient.     

Salvage surgery after induction chemotherapy with paclitaxel/cisplatin and primary radiotherapy for advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas

Induction chemotherapy followed by primary radiotherapy in responders is considered an alternative to surgery for advanced cancer of the larynx and hypopharynx (LHC). Comparison of therapeutic approaches is challenging and must respect oncological and functional outcome as well as quality of life during and after treatment. One aspect of primary radiochemotherapy is the option of salvage surgery in case of residual tumor. The outcome after salvage surgery following new organ-preserving strategies has to be examined. All patients undergoing induction chemotherapy with paclitaxel and cisplatin followed by radiotherapy from 01/96 to 07/05 were included. Salvage surgery was performed either for local recurrence or suspected persistent nodal disease. Complete tumor removal, perioperative morbidity, and overall survival were analyzed in a retrospective study. 28 out of 134 patients underwent salvage surgery after primary treatment with induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy for advanced LHC. 15 patients had laryngectomy (LE) with neck dissection (ND), while 1 patient had lasersurgical partial laryngeal resection with ND for local recurrences. Twelve patients had salvage ND for suspicion of persistent lymph node metastases. 73% of LE patients had major postoperative problems such as pharyngocutaneous fistulas. In 56% of the cases, tumor removal turned out to be microscopically incomplete. Eight out of 12 patients who underwent salvage ND because of suspicious lymph nodes (66%) were free of vital tumor. When metastatic disease was present in the neck (4/12), recurrences occurred in 75% during postoperative follow-up. Only 2 out of 20 patients undergoing surgery for histologically proven recurrence after radiochemotherapy (10%) are actually tumor-free and alive after a mean observation time of 43.9 months. Salvage surgery for local recurrence is associated with high morbidity and poor oncological and functional outcome. ND for suspicious persistent nodal disease after radiochemotherapy can be an over-treatment. In our patients, it was burdened with cervical recurrences and distant metastases in presence of histologically confirmed lymph node metastases. In the light of our results, unfavourable outcome after salvage surgery must be pointed out when initially informing patients about different therapeutic options for advanced LHC.