Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical outcomes of T4 laryngeal cancers.
Methods: T4 laryngeal cancers treated with curative intent from January 2003 to December 2010 were analyzed. Outcomes were evaluated in both primary radiotherapy (+/- chemotherapy) (RT/CRT) and primary surgery cohorts.
Results: Among the 65 primary RT/CRT and 42 primary surgery patients included, median follow-up was 4.4 years. There was a trend for improved locoregional control with surgery (74% vs 88%; p = .08). In the RT/CRT group the 3-year laryngectomy-free survival was 67%. The 2-year gastrostomy dependency rate was 23% with RT/CRT versus 6% with primary surgery (p = .07). Overall survival (OS) at 3 years was significantly lower in the RT/CRT versus primary surgery group (41% vs 70%; p < .01).
Conclusion: Laryngeal preservation is achieved in over two thirds of patients with primary RT/CRT. Patients with low volume minimal cartilage involvement T4 disease may be best suited to RT/CRT. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2035-E2040, 2016.
Keywords: Dosimetric analysis; chemoradiotherapy; laryngeal carcinoma; laryngectomy; organ preservation.
© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.