Glottic laryngeal carcinoma with fixed vocal cord treated with full-dose radiation, total laryngectomy or combined treatment

Management of T3N1 Glottic Carcinoma: Therapeutic Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the current study was to determine the best total laryngectomy (TL) approach to the treatment of T3N1 glottic cancer, to study the impact of early nodal disease on stage III glottic cancers, and to describe the preliminary results in a group of patients recently treated for laryngeal preservation (LP).

METHODS

A retrospective study of Tumor Research Project data were performed on previously untreated patients with T3N1 glottic squamous cell carcinoma who were treated with curative intent by TL and neck dissection (ND) with or without adjuvant radiation therapy (TL +/- RT) from April 1, 1955 to October 8, 1999 at Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes Jewish Hospital. A preliminary analysis of a similar group of patients more recently treated for LP (1-1-2000 to 1-1-2005) is reported.

RESULTS

Forty-two patients with T3N1 glottic carcinoma were treated with TL and ND (TL/ND-16) and TL with ND and TL (TL/ND/RT-26). The 5 year observed survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) for TL/ND were similar at 62.5%. The 5 year OS and DSS for TL/ND/RT were 53.8% and 58.3%, respectively. There was no survival difference between the two methods. The overall local-regional control rate was 73.9% (11/42 recurrences). The overall recurrence rate was 38%, with 7.1% recurrence at both the primary site and neck. Recurrence was not related to treatment method. The overall salvage rate (5 year DSS after retreatment) was 20% with 50% salvage for patients with neck recurrence. No patients with local recurrence were survivors. The incidence of second primary cancers was 6.8%. More recently, 26 similar patients were treated with LP techniques. Preliminary results showed a 3 year OS of 63.5% and DSS of 76.8%. Local-regional control was 85.4%. LP was 88.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

The two TL modalities had statistically similar results in terms of survival, recurrence, and complications. Decreased DSS was seen in older patients (>65 years) and in patients with involved resection margins, recurrent disease, and distant metastasis. Patients with T3N1 glottic cancer had an 8% decrease in DSS compared to patients with T3N0 disease. Previously patients with T3N1 disease have been treated with TL resulting in loss of natural voice in all patients. Preliminary results on 26 patients with T3N1 disease, treated between 2000 and 2005 with voice preservation intent, indicate that the OS, DSS, and local-regional control rates were similar to the TL group, whereas 88.5% of patients maintained natural voice and natural breathing. Use of LP techniques should be the initial therapeutic approach for patients with T3N1 glottic cancer.

Management of T3N0M0 glottic carcinoma: therapeutic outcomes

BACKGROUND

The best therapeutic approach for the treatment of T3N0M0 (stage III) glottic carcinoma is controversial.

METHOD

A retrospective study of Tumor Research Project data were performed using patients with T3N0M0 glottic squamous cell carcinoma treated with curative intent by seven different treatment modalities from January 1950 to December 1996 at Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

RESULTS

Two hundred patients with T3N0M0 glottic carcinoma were treated using seven modalities: total laryngectomy (TL, n = 30), TL with neck dissection (TL/ND, n = 40), conservation surgery alone (CS, n = 22), radiation therapy alone (RT, n = 29), TL combined with RT (TL/RT, n = 31), TL and ND combined with RT (TL/ND/RT, n = 36), and CS combined with RT (CS/RT, n = 12). The overall 5-year observed survival rate (OS) was 54% and the 5-year disease-specific survival rate (DSS) was 67%. The 5-year DSS for the individual treatment modalities included TL, 65.4%; TL/ND, 76.5%; CS, 71.4%; RT, 56.5%, TL/RT, 51.9%; TL/ND/RT, 71.4%; and CS/RT, 80%. There was no significant difference in DSS for any individual treatment modality (P =.375). The overall local and regional control rate was 74% (148 of 200). The overall recurrence rate was 37.5% with recurrence at the primary site and in the neck of 19.5% and 11%, respectively. Recurrence was not related to treatment modality. The 5-year DSS after treatment of recurrent cancer (salvage rate) was 35.8%. The incidence of distant metastasis was 11% and for second primary cancers it was 19.5%. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between necks initially treated (72%, 5-y DSS) versus necks observed and later treated if necessary (70%, 5-y DSS) (P =.797).

CONCLUSIONS

The seven treatment modalities had statistically similar recurrence, complication, and survival rates. Patients with clear surgical margins have a significant survival advantage compared with patients with close and involved margins. Because postoperative radiation therapy in patients with positive margins did not improve survival, formal re-resection of the site of the positive margin should be considered. In patients whose N0 neck was not treated electively, close follow-up observation with meticulous examinations combined with appropriate treatment for subsequent neck disease resulted in a similar survival rate compared with those patients whose N0 necks were treated initially. Six-year minimum follow-up is recommended for early identification of primary and neck recurrence and for discovering expected second primary cancers. Patients treated with RT and CS had statistically similar rates of survival, maintenance of voice, and acquired permanent tracheal stoma. CS is a valid alternative to RT in treating highly selected patients with T3N0 glottic carcinoma.

Laringectomia supracricóide (chep) para câncer glótico

OBJETIVOS: Com a intenção de se avaliar os resultados funcionais e terapêuticos da laringectomia supracricóide com crico-hióide-epiglote-pexia (CHEP) foram estudados 50 casos de pacientes com carcinoma epidermóide da glote classificados como T2/T3 submetidos a esta técnica em nossa instituição. MÉTODOS: Foi realizada uma análise retrospectiva entre 1996 e 1999. Classificamos 18 pacientes como T2N0M0 e 32 pacientes como T3N0M0. Quarenta e um pacientes foram submetidos a esvaziamento cervical seletivo lateral bilateralmente, quatro foram submetidos ao mesmo esvaziamento unilateralmente, e cinco não foram esvaziados. Analisamos as complicações e a sobrevida livre de doença pelo método de Kaplan-Meyer. RESULTADOS: Dez pacientes tiveram complicações pós-operatórias, dois foram tratados com complementação da laringectomia. Os 48 pacientes restantes mantiveram a via aérea normal, deglutição e a voz. Três pacientes no grupo submetido a esvaziamento cervical apresentaram linfonodo metastático. Quatro pacientes tiveram recidiva da doença, três com recidiva local, sendo dois tratados com laringectomia total e estão vivos e sem doença, o outro com doença avançada alcançou o óbito pela doença. O paciente que teve recidiva no pescoço foi tratado com esvaziamento cervical mais radioterapia e morreu com doença. Dois pacientes tiveram um segundo tumor primário em orofaringe, sendo um tratado com radioterapia paliativa e morreu com doença e o outro tratado com cirurgia está vivo e sem doença. A sobrevida livre de doença em três anos foi de 88% para pacientes T2 e 72% para pacientes T3. CONCLUSÕES: Esta técnica é útil no tratamento de casos selecionados de carcinoma epidermóide da glote T2/T3 sempre se considerando a extensão da doença. A incidência de complicações necessitando laringectomia total de resgate não compromete a funcionalidade desta técnica. A sobrevivência é comparável aos pacientes submetidos a laringectomia total e laringectomia "near-total".

Supracricoid laryngectomy with CHEP: functional results and outcome

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohiodoepiglottopexy could successfully reach the cure and preserve the voice in glottic laryngeal cancer, we studied 27 patients with T2/T3 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx treated in our institution with cricohiodoepiglottopexy.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective analysis has been carried out between 1995 through 1997. We classified 11 patients as T2N0M0 and 16 patients as T3N0M0. Nineteen patients had bilateral selective lateral neck dissection, 3 patients had unilateral lateral neck dissection, and 5 patients had undissected neck. Survival was analyzed under the Kaplan-Meyer method.

RESULTS

Five patients had postoperative complications, 2 were treated with a total laryngectomy. The remaining 25 patients kept the normal airway, swallowing, and speech. None of the patients in the neck dissection group had neck metastasis. Two patients had recurrences, 1 with local recurrence was treated with a total laryngectomy and is alive without disease; the other patient had neck recurrence, was treated with radical neck dissection plus radiotherapy, and is dead of the disease. One patient had a second tumor in oropharynx treated with palliative radiotherapy and is dead of the disease. Three years disease-free survival was 75% for T2 and 79% for T3.

CONCLUSIONS

This technique is useful in the treatment of selected cases of T3/T2 glottic cancer regarding the extent of disease. The incidence of complications in need of a complete laryngectomy does not compromise the functionality of this technique. The survival is comparable to patients who submitted to total laryngectomy and near-total laryngectomy, regarding the extent of the lesion.

Radioterapia como tratamento exclusivo no câncer avançado da laringe

Caracteristicamente os estágios avançados (III e IV) do câncer da laringe são tratados inicialmente por cirurgia, seguida de radioterapia complementar. Esta tem sido a combinação terapêutica que tem obtido os melhores resultados, com relação à maior sobrevida e ao maior tempo livre de doença, nestes pacientes. Porém, como freqüentemente a cirurgia a ser adotada nestes casos representa uma mutilação, perda da voz laríngea, nem sempre esta opção de tratamento é aceita pelos pacientes. Por outro lado, pacientes portadores de doença em estágio avançado podem encontrar-se com suas condições clínicas bastante comprometidas, o que impossibilita a realização de uma cirurgia de grande porte. A associação de quimioterapia e radioterapia tem tido pouca utilidade neste tipo de pacientes, pois geralmente apresentam estado clínico geral comprometido e não suportam a alta toxicidade dos esquemas terapêuticos empregados. Nestes casos a indicação de radioterapia exclusiva, como forma de tentar controlar a doença, tem sido a única arma terapêutica que nos resta, e cujos resultados sempre foram uma incógnita no nosso meio. Foram estudados 62 pacientes portadores de carcinoma epidermóide avançado (estágios III e IV) da laringe, tratados por radioterapia exclusiva, no Hospital do Câncer (INCa), durante os anos de 1992 e 1993. Foi realizado tratamento radioterápico com intenção curativa, sendo empregada a dose clássica de 50cGy em cinco semanas. Estes pacientes foram retrospectivamente analisados quanto à sobrevida, ao estágio da doença, à presença de linfonodos cervicais metastáticos, à idade e à necessidade de traqueostomia prévia. Além da constatação da total ineficácia da radioterapia no controle da doença laríngea estágio IV, detectou-se que a sobrevida de três anos igual a 54% para os pacientes do estágio III e a preservação da função da laringe em 2/3 dos pacientes, poderão representar, dependendo de estudos mais abrangentes, uma alternativa terapêutica para pacientes selecionados.

Surgical management of head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancer surgery continues to evolve through the years and undergo improvement and refinement. In this article, the current state of head and neck cancer surgery is summarized in a site-by-site basis. The most important developments include organ-sparing surgery and microvascular free-tissue transfer for reconstruction.

Near-total laryngectomy for treatment of advanced laryngeal cancer

BACKGROUND

In order to assess whether near-total laryngectomy (NTL) could successfully reach the cure and preserve the voice in advanced laryngeal cancer, we studied 28 patients with T3/T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx treated with NTL in our institution.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis has been carried out from 1990 through 1994. We classified 24 patients as Stage III and 4 patients as Stage IV. All patients had lateral neck dissection. Survival was analyzed under the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients achieved voice preservation. Two patients in the bilateral neck dissection group had a metastatic lymph node on the opposite side. No patient had local recurrence. Three patients died of the disease, and 1 patient was salvaged with neck dissection. Three-year disease-free survival was 85%.

CONCLUSION

This technique is useful in the treatment of selected cases of advanced laryngeal cancer and achieves local control of the lesion in all cases. The survival is comparable with that of patients submitted to total laryngectomy, regarding the extent of lesion. Voice preservation can be achieved in most cases.

Advanced laryngeal cancer T3-T4 in Sweden: a retrospective study 1986-1990. Survival and locoregional control related to treatment

Different treatment modalities for advanced laryngeal cancer are much discussed in the literature. One-hundred-and-sixty patients with T3-4, N0-3, M0-1 laryngeal cancer diagnosed in Sweden between 1986 and 1990 were retrospectively analysed. One hundred (65 T3: 35 T4) received radical radiotherapy with salvage surgery (RRSS) in case of residual or recurrent disease. Thirty-eight (11T3: 27 T4) patients received surgery with or without radiotherapy (S +/- RT). Twenty-two patients received no treatment. After a median follow up of 4.4 years, the estimated 5-year actuarial corrected survival and 3-year locoregional control were 59% and 44% for T3 RRSS and 47% and 54% for T3 S +/- RT. No significant difference between the different treatment modalities was found. The 5-year corrected survival rate and the locoregional control at 3 years between T4-RRSS (32%; 26%) and T4-S + RT (58%; 68%) groups were significantly different (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). This might suggest that surgery with or without radiotherapy still has its place as a treatment modality for patients with advanced T4 laryngeal carcinoma.

Head and neck cancer

This synthesis of the literature on radiotherapy for head and neck cancer is based on 424 scientific articles, including 3 meta-analyses, 38 randomized studies, 45 prospective studies, and 246 retrospective studies. These studies involve 79174 patients. The literature review shows that radiotherapy, either alone or in combination with surgery, plays an essential role in treating head and neck cancers. When tumors are localized, many tumor patients can be cured by radiotherapy alone and thereby maintain full organ function (1, 2). Current technical advancements in radiotherapy offer the potential for better local tumor control with lower morbidity (3). This, however, will require more sophisticated dose planning resources. To further improve treatment results for advanced tumors, other fractionation schedules, mainly hyperfractionation, should be introduced (5). This mainly increases the demands on staff resources for radiotherapy. The combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy should be subjected to further controlled studies involving a sufficiently large number of patients (4, 5). Interstitial treatment (in the hands of experienced radiotherapists) yields good results for selected cancers. The method should be more generally accessible in Sweden. Intraoperative radiotherapy should be targeted for further study and development.

Treatment decisions in T3N0M0 glottic carcinoma

PURPOSE

To analyze the results of T3N0M0 glottic carcinoma treated with radiotherapy, surgery, or both.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The records were retrospectively reviewed of 97 patients with this tumor subsite and stage seen for treatment at the Queensland Radium Institute over a 29-year period. The results for radiotherapy with surgical salvage of failure (XRT/SS) were compared to those with surgery with or without radiotherapy (SURG/SURG+XRT). For those treated initially with radiotherapy alone, the results for different ranges of biologically equivalent doses were compared. These results were compared to those of other published studies.

RESULTS

The 5-year disease-specific survival rats for the XRT/SS and SURG/SURG+XRT groups were 50% and 58%, respectively; this difference is not significant. For the XRT/SS group, there was a trend towards improved 5-year recurrence-free survival (73%) and 5-year disease-specific survival (86%) in those treated to a dose equivalent to 60-64 Gy in 2 Gy fractions, when compared with higher or lower dose equivalents.

CONCLUSION

A group of patients with T3N0M0 glottic carcinoma is specified for which the option of radiotherapy offers a similar chance of survival to those treated surgically. More than 50% of the XRT/SS survivors will retain their larynx.

Laryngectomy alone for T3 glottic cancer

BACKGROUND

The long-term survival of 81 patients with T3 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx treated with laryngectomy alone is presented and pathologic predictors for cancer recurrence above the clavicles and cancer death are identified.

METHODS

Clinical records, operative notes, and pathologic slides were reviewed. The major end points were failure above the clavicles, cause-specific survival, and overall survival. All patients were followed until death or a minimum of 10.8 years.

RESULTS

The main pattern of treatment failure was within an undissected ipsilateral or contralateral neck. Subglottic extension and nodal metastases predicted failure above the clavicles and delayed metastasis within an undissected neck. The 5-year rate of control of disease above the clavicles, cause-specific survival, and overall survival were 74.1%, 73.7%, and 54.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients treated with laryngectomy for T3 glottic cancer who have pathologic evidence of subglottic extension or nodal metastasis are at higher risk for recurrence above the clavicles, particularly within an undissected neck.

T3 laryngeal cancer, primary surgery vs planned combined radiotherapy and surgery

The Dutch Co-operative Head and Neck Oncology Group performed a retrospective, nationwide study of laryngeal cancer between 1975 and 1984. The results for T3 laryngeal cancer treated with primary laryngectomy (n = 137) with post-operative radiotherapy when indicated or planned combined (pre-operative) radiotherapy with laryngectomy (n = 113) are analysed. The disease-free survival independent prognostic factors were treatment modality (planned combined treatment fared better, P = 0.001), incomplete resection of disease (P = 0.006), positive lymph nodes in the neck dissection specimen (P = 0.03) and poor differentiation (P = 0.04). Local control (95% vs. 85%, P = 0.01) as well as regional control (96% vs. 79%, P = 0.0001) was improved in the combined group compared with the primary laryngectomy group. Regional control was 69% for N0 patients if the neck nodes were not treated electively, compared with 98% for the planned combined treatment group. It is concluded that elective treatment of the neck nodes in T3 laryngeal cancer is mandatory. Radiotherapy is preferred, since as well as regional control, local control will also improve.