Radiation therapy in early carcinoma of the true vocal cords (stage I and II)

Seventy-four patients with Stage I and twenty patients with Stage II carcinoma of the true vocal cords received radiation therapy from 1971 to 1983. Sixteen patients had second primary cancers with the most common site being the lung. The patients were treated with 4 MeV linear accelerator X ray or 60Co machine with the average total dose of 6600 rads in 33 fractions, 5 days a week by parallel opposing ports. Local control rate by radiation therapy was 86% in Stage I and 70% in Stage II. Eight of twelve (8 of 12) failures were salvaged by surgery. The actuarial 5-year survival was 92 and 80%. Seventy-six (76%) of patients had good quality of voice after treatment.