Hypopharyngeal cancer treatment based on definitive radiotherapy: who is suitable for laryngeal preservation?

• Published in: Journal of laryngology and otology Vol. 122; no. 5; pp. 506 - 512
• Main Authors: Chen, S-W, Tsai, M-H, Yang, S-N, Liang, J-A, Shiau, A-C, Lin, F-J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.05.2008
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - radiotherapy; Chemotherapy; Clinical outcomes; Epidemiologic Methods; Female; Humans; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Laryngeal cancer; Laryngoscopy; Lymphatic system; Male; Medical imaging; Medical prognosis; Medical sciences; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging - methods; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Patient Selection; Patients; Pharynx Neoplasms; Prognosis; Radiation therapy; Radiotherapy; Radiotherapy Dosage - standards; Radiotherapy, High-Energy - methods; Radiotherapy, High-Energy - standards; Surgery; Tumors; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Pharynx Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Prognosis; Radiotherapy; Human; Preservation; Conservation; Hypopharynx cancer; ENT; Malignant tumor; Pharynx; Treatment; ENT disease; Pharynx disease; Larynx; Cancer
• ISSN: 0022-2151; 1748-5460; 1748-5460; 1748-5640
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022215107000692

To investigate prognostic factors for survival and locoregional control in patients with stage I-IVA hypopharyngeal cancer treated with laryngeal preservation radiotherapy. This study was a retrospective analysis of 108 patients with stage I-IVA squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, treated with laryngeal preservation radiotherapy. Actuarial survival, disease-specific survival and local relapse-free survival were calculated, and multivariate analyses were performed using Cox's proportional hazards model. After a median follow-up duration of 39 months, the five-year local relapse-free survival rate was 35 per cent for all patients, 66 per cent for those with stage I-II disease, 46 per cent for those with stage III disease and 20 per cent for those with stage IVA disease (p = 0.004). Multivariate analyses showed that tumour and node stages were independent prognostic factors. Patients with stage I-II disease were suitable for laryngeal preservation radiotherapy. For most patients with stage III-IVA disease, other than those who were T1 N1 or T2 N1, the treatment results were poor.