Retrospective analysis of 659 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with open laryngeal function-preserving operations

Abstract

Background: Open laryngeal function-preserving surgery is a common therapeutic strategy for Chinese laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients.

Objectives: To explore the fundamental clinical characteristics and survival prognostic factors of LSCC patients treated with open laryngeal function-preserving operations.

Material and methods: about a total of 659 LSCC patients undergoing open laryngeal function-preserving operations were retrospectively reviewed. Kaplan–Meier method, Log-rank test and Cox regression model were performed in survival analyses.

Results: About 612 patients were glottic cancer, followed by 44 cases in supraglottis and 3 cases in subglottis. The number of patients in stage T1, T2, T3 and T4 was 190, 365, 100 and 4, respectively. Nineteen patients had positive cervical lymph nodes. The 5-year overall survival, disease-free survival and disease-specific survival rates were 90.1, 84.9 and 90.7%, respectively. T stage and second primary tumour were independent factors predicting overall survival, while T stage and pathological differentiation were independent risk factors for tumour recurrence and progression.

Conclusions and significance: Open laryngeal function-preserving surgery is a crucial therapeutic strategy for Chinese patients with early and, in some cases, advanced-stage LSCC. Early diagnosis and therapy and sufficient and safe surgical margins are key to improving the survival rate and reducing the risk of relapse in LSCC patients.