Predictive value of pathological carcinoma size in patients with T2 glottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

T2N0M0 glottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common type of laryngeal cancer.

The objective of this research was to assess the predictive value of tumor size for the rates of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) as determined by postoperative pathological examination in patients with T2 LSCC.

A retrospective study was conducted on 535 successive patients with T2 glottic LSCC who underwent operation from 2005 to 2010. The effect of tumor size on OS and DFS results was evaluated by the affected area.

Of the cohort, 528 (98.7%) were male, and 7 (1.3%) were female, with an average age of 60.1 ± 9.4 years. The 10-year DFS and OS rates were 72.1% and 76.3%, respectively. The tumor diameter and area cut-off values that best discriminated OS and DFS rates were 1.35 cm and 1 cm², respectively. Patients with glottis carcinoma with a longer tumor diameter and larger tumor area had inferior OS and DFS rates. Tumor diameter and tumor area were independent predictive factors for the rates of OS and DFS in patients with T2 glottic LSCC.

This research showed that patients with T2 glottic LSCC with a carcinoma diameter >1.35 cm or a tumor area >1 cm² have worse survival outcomes. These factors independently predict survival outcomes in patients.