2006 Volume 32 Issue 3 Pages 328-331
Objective: To evaluate the treatment results of patients with early glottic and hypopharyngeal cancers with respect to laryngeal preservation.
Patients and Methods: Between 2001 and 2005, 93 patients with laryngeal cancers and 102 patients with hypopharyngeal cancers were treated at Kobe University Hospital. In general, T1 and T2 glottic cancers were treated with conventional and hyperfractionated radiotherapy, respectively. For hypopharyngeal cancers, Tis and T1 cancers were treated with laryngomicrosurgery followed by conventional radiotherapy. T2 cancers without deep invasion were treated with platinum-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy. More advanced T2 hypopharyngeal cancers were treated with pharyngolaryngectomy. Conservative surgery with laryngeal preservation was considered as salvage for radiation failure.
Results: The larynx was preserved in all patients with T1 glottic cancer (34/34) and 85% of the patients with T2 glottic cancer (28/33). As for hypopharyngeal cancers, local control rate was 100% not only in patients with Tis or T1 hypopharyngeal cancer (21/21) but also in patients with T2 cancer treated by chemoradiothreay (9/9), regardless of the status of nodal metastases. On the other hand, pharyngolaryngectomy was performed in 30 patients with more advanced T2 cancer.
Conclusion: Although the follow-up periods were not long enough, promising results were obtained. Treatment strategy for more advanced cancers remains an issue to be solved.
