Salvage of recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after primary curative surgery

PURPOSE: The efficacy of salvage treatment of recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) after primary curative surgery was evaluated. METHODS: The management outcome of 377 patients who had recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx after primary curative surgery was reviewed. RESULTS: The surgical salvage rates of recurrence were 29% local, 30% tracheostomal, 56% unilateral nodal recurrence of previously undissected neck, 32% of unilateral neck recurrence after prior neck dissection, and 11% lung metastasis. The 5-year tumor-free actuarial survival rates of those patients who received surgical salvage was 35% for local recurrence, 32% for unilateral nodal recurrence of the previously undissected neck, and 18% for nodal recurrence of the previously dissected neck. One patient of six with tracheostomal recurrence salvaged with surgery and one patient of six with lung metastasis salvaged with lobectomy survived without tumor at 5 years. There was no 5-year survivor of all patients salvaged with other nonsurgical methods. The mean survival of patients without surgical salvage was 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: There was a moderate chance of cure after surgical salvage of locoregional recurrent HNSCC. Surgical salvage was, however, only feasible for early recurrent tumor. Close follow-up surveillance of early recurrence is essential after primary treatment of patients.     

Conservation laryngeal surgery versus total laryngectomy for radiation failure in laryngeal cancer

BACKGROUND: Total laryngectomy is the standard of care for surgical salvage of radiation failure in laryngeal cancer. However, the role of conservation laryngeal surgery in this setting remains unclear. The objective was to compare the efficacy of conservation versus total laryngectomy for salvage of radiation failure in patients who initially presented with T1 or T2 squamous cancer of the larynx. METHODS: A 21-year retrospective analysis of patients who received surgery at a single comprehensive cancer center after definitive radiation therapy is reported. At recurrence, the patients were reevaluated and then underwent a total laryngectomy or, if possible, a conservation laryngeal procedure. The charts of 105 patients who failed radiation treatment for primary laryngeal cancer and who subsequently underwent surgical salvage were reviewed for this study. Eighty-nine were male (84.8%). The mean age was 60.3 years. The median follow-up time after surgery was 69.4 months. Most patients with recurrence after radiotherapy required total laryngectomy (69.5%; 73/105). Conservation laryngeal surgery was performed for 32 patients (31.5%). Concomitant neck dissections were performed on 45 patients (45.5%). RESULTS: In 14 patients, local or regional recurrence developed after salvage surgery: 9 patients after total laryngectomy (12.3%; 9/73), and 5 patients (15.6%; 5/32) after conservation laryngeal surgery. This difference was not statistically significant, nor was there a difference in disease-free interval for the two procedures (p = .634, by log-rank test). Distant metastasis developed in 13 patients. Most developed in the setting of local and/or regional recurrence, but distant metastasis occurred as the only site of failure in 6 of the patients who had undergone total laryngectomy but in 1 of the conservation surgery patients treated for a supraglottic laryngeal cancer. The overall mortality for patients who underwent total laryngectomy was also higher: 73.74% (54/73) versus 59.4% (19/32) for patients who underwent a conservation approach (p = .011 by log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS: Although conservation laryngeal surgery was possible in a few patients with local failure after radiotherapy, conservation laryngeal surgery is an oncologically sound alternative to total laryngectomy for these patients.     

Endoscopic laser surgery in the treatment of radiation failure of early laryngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to analyze the local control rates and survival of patients undergoing endoscopic laser surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx as a salvage procedure for recurrent tumors after radiotherapy. METHODS: Twenty-four patients underwent endoscopic laser surgery for radiation failure at our hospital from 1988 to 1995. All patients were men, between 45 and 88 years old. The localization of the recurrence was in the supraglottis in 3 cases and in the glottis in 21 cases. The postirradiation recurrences were staged rT1 in 18 patients and rT2 in 6 patients. RESULTS: Local recurrence after laser surgery developed in six patients (25%) who had a total laryngectomy. Voice preservation was thus achieved in 75% of patients. No patient died because of the laryngeal cancer, and the observed 5-year survival rate was 76%. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that in selected cases, endoscopic laser surgery may be used successfully for treating radiation failure of early laryngeal carcinomas.     

Horizontal supraglottic partial laryngectomy for selected squamous carcinoma of the vallecula

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to determine the incidence of local control in patients with selected squamous carcinoma of the vallecula treated with horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy; to analyze the consequences of local recurrence in terms of nodal recurrence, distant metastasis, survival, causes of death, overall local control, and laryngeal preservation; and to identify any clinical factors predictive of these outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective nonrandomized case series in a university teaching hospital. An inception cohort of 95 previously untreated patients were followed until death or for a minimum of 5 years. According to the 2002 Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC) staging classification system, the tumor was classified as T1, T2, and T3 in 13, 60, and 22 patients, respectively, while disease in 67 patients was considered to be in stages III to IV. All patients underwent a horizontal partial supraglottic partial laryngectomy. Ninety-four patients had an associated neck dissection. An induction chemotherapy regimen was used in 91 patients; postoperative radiation therapy was given for 49 patients. The main outcome measures were local recurrence, nodal recurrence, distant metastasis, and survival. RESULTS: The 1-, 3-, and the 5-year actuarial survival estimates were 86.3%, 64.2%, and 47.4%, respectively. Overall, the main causes of death were as follows: metachronous second primary tumor (47.2% of patients), intercurrent disease (16.7%), distant metastasis (15.3%), local recurrence (6.3%), and nodal recurrence, (4.2%). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year actuarial local recurrence rates were 4.5%, 11%, and 11%, respectively. Nine patients developed a local recurrence; 3 were successfully salvaged. Using multivariate analysis, no single variable was found to increase the risk for local recurrence. The overall laryngeal preservation rate and local control rate were 89.5% (85/95) and 93.4% (89/95), respectively. Local recurrence was associated with a significant increase in nodal recurrence (p <.04) and distant metastasis (p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Based on this experience, horizontal partial supraglottic laryngectomy appears to be a valid approach for functional organ-preservation in patients with selected T1-T3 SCC of the vallecula.     

Supracricoid partial laryngectomy as salvage surgery after radiation failure

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy is often chosen as the definitive treatment for early stage laryngeal carcinoma. Total laryngectomy is the main procedure for failures. Endoscopic treatment of recurrences by CO(2) laser has found limited application. Partial laryngectomy through an external approach has been proposed as salvage surgery, and the vertical partial laryngectomy (VPL) is the most mentioned surgical technique in the literature, although there are, to date, very few reports regarding the use of the supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL) as salvage surgery after radiation failure. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to check the feasibility of SCPL with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP) or cricohyoidopexy (CHP) in patients with laryngeal recurrence after radiation failure and to evaluate the oncologic results, morbidity, and functional outcome. METHODS: Fifteen consecutive patients were treated with salvage intent by SCPL from January 1992 to December 1998. CHEP and CHP were performed in 11 and 4 patients, respectively. Five patients underwent homolateral surgical neck dissection, and one underwent bilateral neck dissection. All patients had a temporary tracheostomy, and two patients required percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) to ensure feeding. Functional rehabilitation started 2 weeks after the operation. RESULTS: The results have been evaluated in terms of oncologic outcome and functional preservation. Twelve patients are alive with a minimum follow-up of 36 months and 3 patients died after 36 days, 6 and 14 months after surgery, the first and second patient from heart failure and the third from lung metastasis. Respiratory function was recovered in all cases. Oral intake began 12 days after surgery, and in 14 cases satisfactory swallowing was recovered 30 days after surgery. An acceptable quality of the voice was achieved by most patients, and a high rate of local immediate complications was solved in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: SCPL represents an effective technique as salvage treatment of laryngeal cancer after exclusive radiotherapy; there is a good functional recovery with acceptable morbidity and good oncologic long-term control.     

Salvage vertical partial laryngectomy for radiation failure in early glottic carcinoma

Background: Partial laryngectomy after failure of radiotherapy for early glottic cancer is an accepted surgical salvage procedure. However,there have been only a few studies on recurrent disease or long‐term survival. Methods: Twenty‐one patients who were treated with salvage partial vertical laryngectomy (PVL) following failure of primary radiotherapy were prospectively studied. Median follow up was 69 months(range 24?204 months). Patients were seen at two‐ monthly intervals for the first 24 months and then 3?4 monthly for 5 years after their partial surgery or until death. Results: Local control was 71.4% (15/21).Among the six patients who recurred within the larynx, two patients developed a second primary; one on the ipsilateral false cord at 24 months and the other on the contra‐lateral vocal cordat 10 years. The no evidence of disease rate following salvage PVL was 95%, 85% and 73% at 12,24 and 36 months, respectively, with a mean disease free interval of 34.9 months (range 7?120). Survival was 90%, 85% and 80% at 12, 24 and 36 months, respectively, with a median survival of 152 months forthe group. Three patients died of their disease and four from other causes. Four local recurrences occurred within 32 months.Two developed neck metastases and died of their disease. Four patients were treated successfully with completion laryngectomy. Only one of these died, but this was due to a second primary squamous cell carcinoma in the lung. Three of the four patients with local recurrences had an extended procedure. Conclusion: Partial vertical laryngectomy is an excellent alternative to total laryngectomy for salvage following failure of ­radiation.Although local recurrence occurred more frequently in those patient shaving an extended partial procedure, this was not statistically different.     

Radical surgery of the malignant laryngeal tumors

Modern therapeutical protocols for treatment of T3 and T4 malignomas of the larynx are not adjusted, because there are attempts to treat these diseases with non-operative methods (such as chemo- and radiotherapy) in order to preserve the organ. The aim of the study was to establish today's results of the surgical treatement of patients with T3 and T4 laryngeal malignoma. We studied the group of patients with laryngeal carcinoma, who had undergone total laryngectomy, during the period of eight years (1990-1997). The patients' data was submitted from medical documentation, it was filled in specially designed questionnaries and was statistically reviewed. During this eight-year-period, 1054 total laryngectomies were done. The five-years survival rate, established in the group of patients who had undergone total laryngectomiy is 308/794 (39%). In the patient group where total laryngectomy was salvage surgery after radiotherapy, the five-years survival rate is 47/172 (27%). In the patient group where total laryngectomy was salvage surgery after conservative or reconstructive surgery, the five-years survival rate is 28/84 (33%). Despite diagnostical and therapeutical achievements, prognosis for T3 and T4 malygnoma of the larynx was not significantly approved in the last few decades.     

Post total laryngectomy stomal recurrence. Case report and review of the literature

Development of stomal recurrence following total laryngectomy is a devastating scenario with an extremely poor prognosis. Overall rate of stomal recurrence ranges from 1.7%-40%, with an average rate of 7.5%. Irrespective of the etiology of stomal recurrence, it invariably consists of diffuse infiltration of tumor into the soft tissues of the neck and mediastinum, thereby making control of the disease difficult. Despite aggresive surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, salvage rate is poor. Prevention of stomal recurrence is therefore of paramount importance and the only means of reducing incidence. Systematic use of preventive surgical measures together with postoperative radiotherapy to the stoma and superior mediastinum have led to decrease in appearance of stomal recurrence. Intensive follow-up should be performed for patients with laryngeal carcinoma who had subglottic involvement, paratracheal lymph node metastasis, or both to detect stomal recurrence at an early stage.     

Benign tumors of the parotid gland: a retrospective study of 339 patients

Aim: Among 339 patients operated for benign tumor of the parotid gland: the recurrences and the postoperative complications rates were compared WITH those published in literature.

Materials and methods: About 339 patients operated: 274 primarily and 65 for recurrence or residual tumor. Variables: sex, age, surgical techniques, pre- or postoperative radiotherapy, histology, size and localization of the tumors, disease free intervals, recurrences and postoperative complications.

Results: 177 men and 162 women. Median age: 55 years and mean follow-up: 10.4 years. About 39 patients had adjuvant radiotherapy (11.5%). After primary surgery, four patients experienced recurrences (1.5%). After salvage surgery, eight patients recurred (12.3%). The recurrence rate was the highest among pleomorphic adenomas. Facial paralysis was more frequent after salvage surgery.

Discussion: Recurrence rate 10 years later was lower after primary than after salvage surgery (p?=?0.01). There was no relation between adjuvant radiotherapy and recurrence rate probably because the low rate of recurrences.

Conclusion: Recurrence rate after primary surgery is lower after superficial or total parotidectomy than after other surgical techniques. Pleomorphic adenomas have the highest rate of recurrences. Age and sex have no significant influence over the rate of recurrences. The most frequent postoperative complications are facial paralysis and Frey’s syndrome.     

Effect of possible risk factors for pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy of laryngeal carcinomas and surgical wound infection: A meta-analysis

A meta-analysis study to assess the effect of possible risk factors for pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) after total laryngectomy of laryngeal carcinoma. A comprehensive literature examination till January 2023 was implemented and 1794 linked studies were appraised. The picked studies contained 3140 subjects with total laryngectomy of laryngeal carcinomas in the picked studies' baseline, 760 of them were PCF, and 2380 were no PCF. Odds ratio (OR) in addition to 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to calculate the consequence of possible risk factors for PCF after total laryngectomy of laryngeal carcinomas and surgical wound infection after total laryngectomy of laryngeal carcinoma by the dichotomous and continuous styles and a fixed or random model. The PCF had a significantly higher surgical wound infection (OR, 6.34; 95% CI, 1.89–21.27, P = .003) compared with the no PCF in total laryngectomy of laryngeal carcinomas. The smoking (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.15–2.61, P = .008), and preoperative radiation (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.37–2.65, P < .001) had significantly higher PCF as a risk factor in total laryngectomy of laryngeal carcinomas. The preoperative radiation had a significantly lower spontaneous PCF closure (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.14–0.79, P = .01) compared with the no preoperative radiation in total laryngectomy of laryngeal carcinomas. However, the neck dissection (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.75–2.38, P = .32), and alcohol intake (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 0.76–5.05, P = .17), had no significant effect on PCF in total laryngectomy of the PCF had a significantly higher surgical wound infection, and preoperative radiation had a significantly lower spontaneous PCF closure in total laryngectomy of laryngeal carcinomas. Smoking and preoperative radiation were shown to be risk factors for PCF, however, neck dissection and alcohol intake were not shown to be risk factors for PCF in total laryngectomy of laryngeal carcinomas. Although precautions should be taken when commerce with the consequences because some of the picked studies for this meta-analysis was with low sample sizes.     

Stomal recurrence after total laryngectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

OBJECTIVE: Stomal recurrence after total laryngectomy is one of the most serious issues in the management of laryngeal carcinoma. The management of stomal recurrence, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, has been reported as unsatisfactory. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: From 1985 to 1995, 69 patients underwent total laryngectomy for the treatment of laryngeal cancer at the University of Tokyo Hospital. To identify the risk factors for stomal recurrence, we analyzed these patients according to various clinicopathological factors. RESULTS: Stomal recurrence developed in 6 of 69 patients who underwent total laryngectomy for laryngeal carcinoma. Statistical analysis reveals that primary site, preoperative tracheotomy, and paratracheal lymph node metastasis are significant risk factors for stomal recurrence. CONCLUSION: Intensive follow-up should be performed for patients with glottic carcinoma who had preoperative tracheotomy, paratracheal lymph node metastasis, or both to detect stomal recurrence at an early stage.     

A nine-year institutional experience with near-total laryngectomy

BACKGROUND: Pearson's near-total laryngectomy (NTL) is an alternative procedure to total laryngectomy in selected patients with advanced laryngeal cancer. Based on our experience with NTL for >9 years, we present here the functional results, complications, and survival rates. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out from January 1993 to May 2002. We studied 15 patients with advanced laryngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal cancer who underwent NTL. Survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The most common complication was fistula (8 of 15) followed by minor aspiration (4 of 15 patients). Eleven patients (73.5%) attained a good voice; 3 patients (19.9%) obtained a bad voice; and 1 did not achieved vocal ability. Three patients (19.9%) had local recurrence; no patients had neck recurrence; and 2 patients (13.3%) had distant metastasis. Six patients (40%) died from their disease, and 2 (13.3%) patients died from other causes. The 3-year actuarial survival rate was 81.6%. CONCLUSIONS: NTL is useful in the treatment of selected patients with advanced laryngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal cancer and results in good control and survival rates. Satisfactory functional results can be attained in the majority of patients. When the surgical margins are positive or close, TL must be carried out.     

Carcinoma of the buccal mucosa.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to analyze the outcome of surgical therapy for buccal carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was done. SETTING: The study took place in a major tertiary-care hospital. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients received first-time surgical therapy for buccal carcinoma. Treatment was surgery alone in 15 and surgery followed by radiation therapy in 6 patients. Six additional patients received surgical salvage for radiation therapy failure. Composite resection of the tumor was performed in 16 patients (59%). Five-year observed actuarial survival rates were 100%, 45%, 67%, and 78%, and locoregional recurrence rates were 0%, 27%, 44%, and 0% for stages I to IV, respectively. The 5-year actuarial survival rates were 80% after surgery and 82% after surgery and postoperative radiation therapy. Patients who underwent surgical salvage after radiation therapy failure had a 1-year survival rate of 0%. CONCLUSION: Aggressive surgical treatment of buccal carcinoma may result in better survival rates. SIGNIFICANCE: The article analyzes buccal carcinoma in regards to the patterns of presentation, treatments rendered, and patterns of failure.     

Cancer of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus. Role and limits of the surgical treatment

From 1975 to 1988, we observed 169 patients with a carcinoma of the cervical esophagus, 85 with a carcinoma involving the hypopharynx and the cervical esophagus, and 27 with a carcinoma of the cervical esophagus occurring after laryngectomy for laryngeal carcinoma. The average age was 57.5 years (41-73). Exploration was surgical for 167 patients (operability ratio 59.5%), and the lesion was resected in 152 cases (resectability ratio 81.1%). Resection was complete in 129 patients (84.5%) and palliative in 23 (14.5%). A laryngopharyngoesophagectomy involving the cervical esophagus and requiring the transplantation of a free intestinal loop was performed in 33 cases, with an operative mortality rate of 6.1%. Pharyngolaryngectomy with total esophagectomy was performed in 101 patients, and the digestive tract was reconstructed by means of pharyngogastrostomy or pharyngocolostomy (respectively 85 and 16 cases) with an operative mortality rate of 12.9% and 18.3%, respectively. Complete esophagectomy without laryngectomy was performed for 18 patients with carcinoma of the distal cervical esophagus who refused laryngectomy, the hospital mortality rate being of 5.5%. The actuarial survival rate after 5 years (not including operative mortality) was 15.8%. Better results were achieved after complete resection for carcinoma of the hypopharynx than for carcinoma of the cerebral esophagus. The actuarial survival rates after 2 and 5 years were 59% vs. 26% and 43% vs. 17% respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Transoral carbon dioxide laser microsurgery for recurrent glottic carcinoma after radiotherapy

BACKGROUND: Transoral laser microsurgery is successfully performed in the treatment of primary laryngeal carcinomas. Few publications deal with the application in patients with recurrent glottic carcinomas after radiation failure. Our study aims to review our experience with transoral laser microsurgery in these patients. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with early and advanced recurrent glottic carcinoma after full-course radiotherapy (rT1, n = 11; rT2, n = 10; rT3, n = 10; rT4, n = 3) had CO(2) laser treatment with curative intent between 1987 and 1998. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (71%) were cured with one or more laser procedures. In nine patients, recurrences could not be controlled by laser microsurgery: six patients underwent total laryngectomy and three palliative treatment. One patient received total laryngectomy because of chondronecrosis after laser treatment. With a median follow-up interval of 38.6 months, the 3-year and 5-year disease-specific survival was 86%. The overall 3-year survival rate was 74%; the corresponding 5-year survival rate was 53%. No major complications occurred. In three cases, temporary tracheostomy was needed. CONCLUSIONS: In early-stage and advanced-stage recurrent glottic carcinomas after radiotherapy, CO(2) laser treatment can successfully be used as a curative organ-preserving procedure. Compared with salvage laryngectomy, results are superior with respect to preservation of laryngeal function. Great expertise is required, especially in resections of advanced-stage recurrent carcinomas.     

Prevention of wound complications following salvage laryngectomy using free vascularized tissue

BACKGROUND: Total laryngectomy following radiation therapy or concurrent chemoradiation therapy is associated with unacceptably high complication rates because of wound healing difficulties. With an ever increasing reliance on organ preservation protocols as primary treatment for advanced laryngeal cancer, the surgeon must develop techniques to minimize postoperative complications in salvage laryngectomy surgery. We have developed an approach using free tissue transfer in an effort to improve tissue vascularity, reinforce the pharyngeal suture line, and minimize complications in this difficult patient population. The purpose of this study was to outline our technique and determine the effectiveness of this new approach. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of a prospective cohort and compared it with a historical group (surgical patients of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)-91-11 trial). Eligibility criteria for this study included patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy following failed attempts at organ preservation with either high-dose radiotherapy or concurrent chemo/radiation therapy regimen. Patients were excluded if the surgical defect required a skin paddle for pharyngeal closure. The prospective cohort consisted of 14 consecutive patients (10 males, 4 females; mean age, 58 years) who underwent free tissue reinforcement of the pharyngeal suture line following total laryngectomy. The historical comparison group consisted of 27 patients in the concomitant chemoradiotherapy arm of the RTOG-91-11 trial who met the same eligibility criteria (26 males, 1 female; mean age, 57 years) but did not undergo free tissue transfer or other form of suture line reinforcement. Minimum follow-up in both groups was 12 months. RESULTS: The overall pharyngocutaneous fistula rate was similar between groups-4/14 (29%) in the flap group, compared with 8/27 (30%) in the RTOG-91-11 group. There were no major wound complications in the flap group, compared with 4 (4/27, 14.8%) in the RTOG-91-11 group. There were no major fistulas in the flap group, compared with 3/27 (11.1%) in the RTOG-91-11 group. The rate of pharyngeal stricture requiring dilation was 6/14 (42%) in the flap group, compared with 7/27 (25.9%) in the RTOG-91-11 group. In our patients, the rate of tracheoesophageal speech was 14/14 (100%), and complete oral intake was achieved in 13/14 (93%) patients. Voice-Related Quality of Life Measure (V-RQOL) and Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer Patients (PSS-HN) scores suggest that speech and swallowing functions are reasonable following free flap reinforcement. CONCLUSIONS: Free vascularized tissue reinforcement of primary pharyngeal closure in salvage laryngectomy following failed organ preservation is effective in preventing major wound complications but did not reduce the overall fistula rate. Fistulas that developed following this technique were relatively small, did not result in exposed major vessels, and were effectively treated with outpatient wound care rather than readmission to the hospital or return to operating room. Speech and swallowing results following this technique were comparable to those following total laryngectomy alone.     

Laser carbon dioxide cordectomy versus open surgery in the treatment of glottic carcinoma: Our results

OBJECTIVE: To analyze oncologic results in patients with glottic cancers treated respectively, by laser CO 2 or open surgery, taking into account specific-disease survival, rate of locoregional recurrences, and their salvageability. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of 198 patients treated from January 1993 to June 2002 in the department of otorhinolaryngology at a Catholic university in Rome. METHODS: Glottic carcinoma were treated by laser CO 2 cordectomy in 132 patients (group 1) and by open surgery in 66 patients (group 2). The statistical analysis was performed by Kaplan Meyer method, log rank test, and chi 2 test. RESULTS: The log-rank test points out significant differences between the 2 groups regarding specific-disease survival; no differences were found for disease-free survival. Within group 1, 16 patients developed local failure, which was retreated in 6 cases with laser surgery; in 9 (6.8%) with total laryngectomy, only 1 case was inoperable. In this group, 10 patients (62.5%) were salvaged. Within group 2, 18 patients developed local recurrences, which was retreated in 14 (21.21%) cases with total laryngectomy; the other 4 cases were not suitable for surgery. Of these 18, 8 patients (44.5%) were salvaged. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Our results show significant differences between the 2 groups concerning the specific-disease survival and the salvageability of local recurrences. In fact, in group 1 we found a higher salvage rate and a lower incidence of total laryngectomy. As already suggested, laser therapy leaves the laryngeal cartilaginous framework intact, avoiding the spread of the tumor out of laryngeal organ and resulting in a more favorable oncologic outcome.     

Comparison of pharyngoesophageal segment pressure in total laryngectomy patients with and without pharyngeal neurectomy

BACKGROUND: To compare pharyngoesophageal segment (PES) pressure values in total laryngectomy patients with and without pharyngeal neurectomy (PN) in the early postoperative period. METHODS: Forty-five previously untreated laryngeal carcinoma patients were enrolled into this prospective randomized study. Twenty of them underwent total laryngectomy with PN, and 25 underwent total laryngectomy without PN. PES pressures were measured on the tenth postoperative day with a four-channel catheter. RESULTS: Average PES pressures in patients with and without pharyngeal neurectomy were 12.82 +/- 6.11 mmHg and 17.40 +/-.72 mmHg respectively (p <.05). When compared with the critical point of 20 mmHg that is closely related to voice attainment in the group without pharyngeal neurectomy, 10 (40%) patients had pressure levels greater than 20 mmHg and in the other group only 1 (5%) patient had a pressure level greater than 20 mmHg. The difference between the groups with pressure levels greater than 20 mmHg was found to be statistically significant (p <.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pharyngeal neurectomy results in a statistically significant decrease of PES pressures in total laryngectomy patients.     

Cancer of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus

Between 1975 and 1988 we observed 169 patients with carcinoma of the cervical esophagus, 85 with a carcinoma involving the hypopharynx and the cervical esophagus, and 27 patients with a carcinoma of the cervical esophageal region arising after laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer. The mean age was 57.5 years (range 41-73). 167 patients underwent surgical exploration (operability rate 59.5%) and in 152 cases the tumor was resected (resectability rate 91.1%). The resection was complete in 129 patients (84.5%) and palliative in 23 (14.5%). In 33 cases a segmental laryngo-pharyngo-cervical esophagectomy with free intestinal loop transplantation was performed with an operative mortality of 6.1%. 101 patients underwent total laryngo-pharyngo esophagectomy and the gastrointestinal tract was reconstructed by means of pharyngo-gastrostomy and pharyngo-colostomy in 85 and 16 cases, with an operative mortality of 12.9% and 18.3%, respectively. Total esophagectomy without laryngectomy was performed in 18 patients with a carcinoma of the distal cervical esophagus refusing laryngectomy with a hospital mortality of 5.5%. The overall 5-year actuarial survival, excluding the operative mortality, was 15.8%. After complete resection, better results were recorded with patients operated for carcinoma of the hypopharynx than with patients with carcinoma of the cervical esophagus: the 2-year and 5-year actuarial survival was 59% vs 26% and 43% vs 17%, respectively. No patient undergoing palliative resection was alive at the 3-year interval.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Primary radiation therapy for early glottic cancer.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Early glottic squamous cell carcinoma can be effectively treated with either radiation or surgical intervention. We evaluated our experience treating early glottic cancer with primary radiation therapy and our vertical hemilaryngectomy (VHL) salvage experience. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: Retrospectively, patient records between January 1986 and December 1994 were reviewed and 45 patients with early glottic squamous cell carcinoma who received full-course radiation therapy at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation were identified. RESULTS: Local control after radiation therapy was 80% overall, 87.5% for T1 lesions, and 75% for T2 lesions. Four patients underwent VHL for salvage after local recurrence; 1 was successfully salvaged with VHL. Five patients underwent total laryngectomy salvage after radiation therapy; all were successful. Only 1 of the 6 patients who were originally candidates for VHL before radiation therapy was successfully salvaged with the larynx preserved. CONCLUSIONS: Our local control rates using primary radiation therapy are consistent with prior published series, but voice sparing salvage is poor.