T2 laryngeal carcinoma with impaired mobility: subtypes with therapeutic implications

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome in the treatment of T2 laryngeal carcinoma with impaired laryngeal mobility, comparing surgical management to radiotherapy in terms of local control and survival. The files of 66 patients treated between 1988 and 1994 were retrospectively studied for tumor location, treatment and outcome. Forty-two patients were treated surgically and 24 by radiotherapy. Follow-up averaged 8.5 years. Local recurrence occurred in 12.5% of the cases treated by conservation laryngeal surgery and in 21% of the cases by radiotherapy. Ultimate laryngeal preservation was achieved in 90.9% of the cases initially treated by partial laryngectomy and in 87.5% of the cases treated by radiotherapy. Five-year actuarial survival rates were 90% and 28%, respectively. A higher rate of metastases and second primaries occurred in the group treated by radiotherapy. T2 laryngeal carcinoma amenable to partial laryngectomy had a higher local control rate than the cases not amenable to conservation surgery and treated by radiotherapy. Tumors differed in the two treatment groups in location and extensions, despite the fact that all were T2 tumors. We emphasize the limits of retrospective studies. Only prospective randomized studies will determine the true results of surgery versus radiotherapy for a homogeneous subset of T2 laryngeal tumors. Received: 17 May 2001 / Accepted: 21 August 2001     

Oncological outcomes of surgical treatment for T3 supraglottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients

Abstract

Background: T3 supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma (LC) is a common advanced laryngeal cancer.

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the clinical results of pathological T3 (pT3) supraglottic LC patients who were amenable to laryngectomy treated with primary surgery and postoperative therapy.

Methods: Retrospective review of 202 pT3 cases of supraglottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Results: The five-year cancer specific survival (CSS) rate was 63.7% and the overall survival rate (OS) was 62.8%. For T3 supraglottic patients who underwent total laryngectomy, the five-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 51.8%, and the CSS was 62.5%. For patients who underwent partial laryngectomy, the five-year DFS was 72.2%, and the CSS was 79.0%. High lymph node and stage status are predictors of mortality for these patients. No difference was found in the DFS and CSS rates between patients with negative margins and those with positive margins following postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Conclusion: Surgical treatment of T3 supraglottic LC patients achieved satisfactory results. Postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy are an effective method of treatment for T3 supraglottic LC patients, especially for those with a positive margin.     

Results of conservation surgery for cancers of the supraglottis and pyriform sinus

A retrospective review of patients treated by surgery and/or radiation for carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx and the pyriform sinus was accomplished for the period 1964-1974. This patient population reflects the 10-year period following earlier experience with conservation surgery at this institution, and, thus, updates the current status of treatment for these cancers. Endpoints examined included survival, control, pattern of failure, the influence of nodal metastasis, and voice preservation. Of 160 patients treated for supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma, 119 received conservation surgery (subtotal supraglottic laryngectomy, SSL, or partial laryngopharyngectomy, PLP); 21 patients received total laryngectomy; and 20 others received palliative radiation. The 3-year actuarial survivals for these groups were 67%, 43% and 30%, respectively. Voice was preserved in 85% of the patients treated by conservation surgery, in 70% of those treated by radiation alone, and, of course, in none of the patients receiving total laryngectomy. There were 175 patients treated for carcinoma of the pyriform sinus; 85 received PLP; 57, total laryngopharyngectomy (TLP); and 33, palliative radiation. Actuarial 3-year survival was 59% for the PLP-treated group, 36% for the TLP-treated group and 11% for the palliation group. Voice was preserved in 52% of the patients treated by conservation surgery, in 6% of those treated by radiation alone, and in none of those patients treated by total laryngectomy. Comparison of this data with that in other published reports indicates that, for selected patients, conservation surgery is as effective in controlling disease as is radical surgery. Furthermore, it is possible to preserve speaking ability in a significant number of patients having carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx or pyriform sinus.     

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     

Partial laryngeal surgery in recurrent carcinoma

With the growing acceptance of nonsurgical therapies for laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCCs), it has become important to delineate surgical salvage strategies for disease recurrences. Total laryngectomy is often recommended, but appropriately selected laryngeal recurrences may be treated successfully with partial laryngeal surgery: laryngeal function can be preserved with oncological efficacy. The main available studies dealing with partial laryngeal surgery in recurrent carcinoma were critically reviewed. The most appealing feature of salvage transoral laser surgery (TLS) is the opportunity to make tumor-tailored excisions without any reconstructive limitations and retaining the option to switch to open partial laryngectomy. A recent detailed review of 11 series found a pooled local control rate of 57% after a first TLS procedure. Supracricoid laryngectomy (SCL) seems to achieve good local control rates in selected cases of recurrent supraglottic-glottic carcinoma: one review considering seven series calculated that 85% of the patients treated with salvage SCL after radiotherapy experienced no local recurrence; and total laryngectomy after failure of salvage SCL afforded an overall local control rate of 65%. Neck dissection is mandatory in all cases of local LSCC recurrence with evidence of neck metastases, and routine elective neck dissection is recommended for recurrent supraglottic and transglottic cancers.     

Treatment of T3 carcinoma of the larynx by surgery or radiotherapy.

T3 carcinoma of the larynx may be treated by surgery or by irradiation. A large number of oncologists feel that radical surgery offers a better chance of cure than does radiotherapy. We report a series of 147 patients with T3 N0 carcinoma of the larynx treated either by irradiation with salvage laryngectomy in the event of a recurrence, or by total laryngectomy. 109 patients had radiotherapy and 38 patients underwent surgery. The groups were well matched with no significant difference between the significant prognostic factors. The 5-year survival rate between the radiotherapy (70%) and surgery (40%) groups was significantly different (chi 2 = 4.48, d.f. = 1, P < 0.05). In spite of the well known problems associated with retrospective studies the present series suggests that radiotherapy combined with salvage surgery is an oncologically sound option for treating T3 laryngeal carcinoma.     

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.     

Extended supraglottic laryngectomy for primary base of tongue carcinomas

A retrospective review of 56 patients with a primary base of tongue carcinoma was undertaken to determine the value of supraglottic laryngectomy. All the patients had a supraglottic laryngectomy and a total of 77 neck dissections. Forty-three (76.8%) patients received post-operative radiotherapy. The incidence of local recurrence was 23.2%, neck relapse being seen in 16.1% of patients. The 3 year survival was 47%. The overall survival of the whole series and by stage was not improved by combined therapy compared with surgery alone.     

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。     

Partial laryngectomy and radiotherapy for supraglottic cancer: a conservative approach

This is a retrospective study of 33 patients with supraglottic cancer treated with partial laryngectomy and moderate-dose radiotherapy at the University of Virginia from 1967 through 1986. All patients had a 2-year minimum follow-up. Ten patients received preoperative radiotherapy, and 23, postoperative radiotherapy. The 2-year adjusted survival rate was impressive at 97%. Local control at 2 years was 96%, including one patient who was salvaged with total laryngectomy. Control of the neck was 90% at 2 years. Ninety percent of the patients alive at 2 years had a functional voice. One patient required a completion laryngectomy for chronic aspiration. Conservation surgery with radiotherapy provides excellent survival as well as locoregional control rates with preservation of function in selected patients with supraglottic cancer. This approach may be especially helpful in the management of bulky T2 lesions as well as T4 lesions with minimal vallecula or base of tongue involvement.     

Horizontal partial laryngectomy for supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma

Between 1981–1999, 75 patients treated for supraglottic SCC with horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy (HSL) at the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department of Lausanne University Hospital were retrospectively studied. There were 16 patients with T1, 46 with T2 and 13 with T3 tumors. Among these, 16 patients (21%) had clinical neck disease corresponding to stage I, II, III and IV in 12, 39, 18 and 6 patients, respectively. All patients had HSL. Most patients had either elective or therapeutic bilateral level II–IV selective neck dissection. Six patients (8%) with advanced neck disease had ipsilateral radical and controlateral elective II–IV selective neck dissections. Adjuvant radiotherapy was given to 25 patients (30%) for either positive surgical margins (n=8), pathological nodal status (n=14) or both (n=3). Median follow-up was 48 months (range, 24–199). Five-year disease-specific survival and locoregional and local control were 92, 90 and 92.5%, respectively. Among five patients who were diagnosed with local recurrence, one had a total laryngectomy (1.4%); the others were treated by endoscopic laser surgery. Two patients had both a local and regional recurrence. They were salvaged with combined surgery and radiotherapy, but eventually died of their disease. Cartilage infiltration seems to influence both local control (P=0.03) and disease-specific survival (P=0.06). There was a trend for worse survival with pathological node involvement (P=0.15) and extralaryngeal extension of the cancer (P=0.1). All patients except one recovered a close to normal function after the treatment. Aspiration was present in 16 patients (26%) in the early postoperative period. A median of 16 days (7–9) was necessary to recover a close to normal diet. Decannulation took a median of 17 days (8–93). Seven patients kept a tracheotomy tube for up to 3 months because of persistent aspiration. There was no permanent tracheostomy or total laryngectomy for functional purposes. Horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy remains an adequate therapeutic alternative for supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma, offering an excellent oncological outcome. The postoperative functional morbidity is substantial, indicating the need for careful patient selection, but good laryngeal function recovery is the rule. The surgical alternative is endoscopic laser surgery, which may offer comparable oncological results with less functional morbidity. Nevertheless, these two different techniques need to be compared prospectively.This paper was presented at the 2nd World Congress of the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 29 November–2 December 2002.     

Extended and standard supraglottic laryngectomies: a review of 110 patients

The purpose of this study was to compare functional and oncological results of extended and standard supraglottic laryngectomies. One hundred ten patients with supraglottic carcinoma were treated. A standard supraglottic laryngectomy (SSL), a laterally extended supraglottic laryngectomy (LESL) and an anteriorly extended supraglottic laryngectomy (AESL) were performed on 32, 47 and 31 patients, respectively. Indications for postoperative radiotherapy included positive surgical margins (23% of patients) and/or node metastasis (63% of patients). Local recurrence occurred in 13% of SSL, 15% of LESL and 17% of AESL patients. Pulmonary complications due to aspiration were observed in 6% of SSL, 15% of LESL and 19% of AESL. The overall 5-year cure rates were 63% for SSL, 45% for LESL and 47% for the AESL procedures. Extended supraglottic laryngectomies provided as good a local tumor control as SSL. Extension to the hypopharynx (LESL) and to the vallecula (AESL) showed more frequent pulmonary complications and reduced cure rates.     

Transoral carbon dioxide laser supraglottic laryngectomy and irradiation in stage I, II, and III squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx: report of Southwest Oncology Group Phase 2 Trial S9709

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate feasibility, functional outcome, and disease control of endoscopic surgery and irradiation in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx. DESIGN: Prospective, single-arm, phase 2 multi-institutional trial. SETTING: Southwest Oncology Group trial S9709. PATIENTS: Thirty-four patients diagnosed as having stage I, stage II, or selected stage III (T1-2N1M0) supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma enrolled from September 15, 1997, to December 1, 2001. INTERVENTIONS: Transoral supraglottic laryngectomy by carbon dioxide laser followed by planned postoperative radiotherapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three-year progression-free survival, proportion of patients requiring tracheostomy as a result of surgery, and time to adequate oral intake. RESULTS: All 34 patients underwent surgery without major protocol deviation. Thirty-two patients (94%) completed planned postoperative radiotherapy without major deviation. At the time of analysis, only 1 patient (3%) had documented local disease recurrence at the primary disease site and required salvage total laryngectomy, and 2 patients (6%) had documented regional recurrence and required salvage neck dissection. Estimated 3-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 79% and 88%, respectively. No subjects required tracheostomy as a direct consequence of endoscopic resection. Patients who required tracheostomy before endoscopic resection due to either obstructive tumor bulk or unfavorable anatomy that precluded safe intubation (4 patients [12%]) were all decannulated in the early postoperative period (相似文献   

Complications of supraglottic laryngectomy for carcinomas of the supraglottis and the base of the tongue

The medical records of patients with either a supraglottic carcinoma (n = 193) or a base of tongue carcinoma (n = 56) who underwent a supraglottic laryngectomy were studied. Because of aspiration total laryngectomy was required in 9.8% and 21.4% of patients with supraglottic and base of tongue carcinomas, respectively, being related to locally advanced stage of disease in the base of tongue and to an age older than 65 years in the case of supraglottic carcinomas. The non-decannulation rates were 23.8% and 50% in supraglottic and base of tongue tumours respectively. Post-operative radiotherapy did not influence the decannulation rate. but advanced local disease and age did. Post-operative mortality in the first month after the operation was 2.6% in supraglottic tumours and 3.6% in base of tongue tumours.     

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.     

喉声门上型低分化鳞状细胞癌57例临床观察

目的 探讨喉声门上型低分化鳞状细胞癌(简称鳞癌)的临床特点、治疗及预后。方法 回顾分析1980～1998年我院57例喉声门上型低分化鳞癌病例(1997年UICC分期：Ⅰ期4例，Ⅱ期5例，Ⅲ期18例，Ⅳ期30例)。单纯手术25例，单纯放射治疗9例，术前放射治疗加手术14例，手术加术后放射治疗7例，术前化学治疗加手术2例。喉全切除23例，喉部分切除25例；同期颈清扫31例(单侧17例，双侧14例)，上颈清扫12例。结果5年生存率47．4％(27／57)，颈部转移率63．2％(36／57)，双颈转移率24．6％(14／57)，远处转移率21．1％(12／57)，局部复发率10．5％(6／57)，颈部复发率28．1％(16／57)，喉部分切除的局部复发率12．0％(3／25)。生存率随分期下降，T1 T2与13 T4和N0 N1与N2 N3的生存率差异分别有显著性(χ^2=4．942，P=0．026；χ^2=4．306，P=0．038)。单纯手术与手术结合放射治疗的生存率差异无显著性，N2和N3患者的手术结合放射治疗相对优于单纯手术。结论 喉声门上型低分化鳞癌患者以晚期病变为主，易较早发生淋巴结转移，颈部转移和远处转移率较高，治疗仍以手术为主，喉部分切除术是可行的，T3病变的喉部分切除和颈部N分级较晚的患者应手术结合放射治疗。     

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.     

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。     

双蒂双肌瓣在T3和T4喉癌扩大喉部分切除术中的应用

目的 观察双蒂双肌瓣在T3、T4喉癌喉扩大部分切除术中应用的远期疗效。方法 1990年5月—1997年5月对386例喉癌T3、T4病变行喉扩大部分切除术，同时应用单侧或双侧双蒂双肌瓣进行修复喉腔大面积缺损，重建喉功能，手术方法包括：扩大声门上水平喉部分切除术，扩大垂直喉部分切除术，3／4喉部分切除术及喉次全切除术。结果 术后8—12d拔除鼻饲管，气管套管拔除率50．3％(194／386)。3年和5年生存率分别是76．7％(296／386)和55．2％(213／386)，局部复发率为16．6％(64／386)。结论 双蒂双肌瓣扩大了T3、T4喉癌喉部分切除术的适应证，只要把握好双蒂双肌瓣应用的适应证，可使部分晚期喉癌患者免除喉全切除之苦，提高了患者的生存质量，并发症少。     

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.