Combined therapy in the management of laryngeal carcinoma

The subject of combined therapy for carcinoma of the head and neck is as perplexing now as it was in its beginning. Low vs high dose pre-operative radiation for carcinoma of the larynx remains a valid question. A total of 92 patients with advanced laryngeal carcinoma were studied at the University of Illinois. The results of treatment for 2 patients receiving planned low dose pre-operative radiation and 30 patients receiving planned high dose pre-operative radiation have been studied, using the actuarial method to calculate survival. Improved survival and decreased complications are evident in the low dose pre-operative group as compared to the high dose pre-operative group.