Time trends in T3 to T4 laryngeal cancer: a population-based long-term analysis

A decline in laryngectomies and survival in laryngeal cancer has been reported, especially among patients with advanced tumors.

Of 1058 patients with laryngeal cancer diagnosed from 1978 to 2007 in the Uppsala-Örebro region in Sweden, 263 T3 to T4 tumors treated with curative intent were studied retrospectively. Two time periods were defined, 1978 to 1992 and 1993 to 2007.

Glottic tumors decreased constituting 68.6% of cases in 1978 to 1992 and 47.9% in 1993 to 2007. Laryngectomies were performed in 38.8% and 34.5% in the corresponding time periods. The use of laryngectomy was not strongly prognostic. A decline in overall survival (OS) over time could only be identified for the first year of follow-up. Chemotherapy was only used in a minority of cases.

The marked decrease of glottic site may mark a shift in etiology. Laryngectomy was not strongly associated with improved survival. The absence of improved survival calls for intensified research.