Radiotherapy for Laryngeal Cancer in Patients under 50 Years Old

Fifty-nine cases of laryngeal cancer treated by radiotherapyat the National Cancer Center Hospital between 1962 and 1990were analyzed retrospectively. All the patients were less than50 years old. The median total dose of the radiation deliveredto the primary tumor site was 70 Gy. The overall 5-yr survivalrate and 5-yr local control rate were 88% and 72%, respectively.Five (8.5%) of the 59 patients developed late recurrence morethan five yr after initial treatment, but subsequent salvageoperations were successful for disease control; three patientshad T1 glottic cancer, one had T2-3 glottic cancer and one hadT3N1 supraglottic cancer. Since the local control rate and the5-yr survival rate after radiotherapy are satisfactory, radiotherapy,which allows both functional and esthetic conservation, hasan important role in the treatment of laryngeal cancer in adultsunder 50 yr of age.