Missed Adjuvant Therapy Following Upfront Laryngectomy for Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

To investigate adjuvant therapy considerations, utilization, and associated overall survival (OS) following upfront laryngectomy for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

The 2010 to 2017 National Cancer Database was retrospectively reviewed for patients undergoing upfront laryngectomy (N = 3360). Kaplan-Meier, multivariable binary logistic, and Cox proportional hazards regression models were implemented.

Among 2997 patients with consideration(s) for adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) (i.e., pT3-4, pN2-3 classification, lymphovascular invasion, pathologic extranodal extension (pENE), and/or positive surgical margins [PSM]), 1176 (39.2%) did not undergo adjuvant therapy and were considered to have missed aRT. Among 992 patients with consideration(s) for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (aCRT) (i.e., pENE and/or PSM), 169 (17.0%) underwent aRT alone and were considered to have missed aCRT. Older age and increased distance to the reporting facility were associated with higher adjusted odds of both missed aRT (p < 0.001) and missed aCRT (p < 0.025). Patients with pENE only (N = 343, 57.6%) and pENE and PSM (N = 96, 56.8%) underwent aCRT more frequently than those with PSM only (N = 97, 42.5%) (p < 0.001). Missed aRT was associated with worse OS among 2005 patients with consideration(s) for aRT alone (i.e., pT3-4, pN2-3 classification, and/or LVI without pENE or PSM) (aHR 1.23, 95% CI 1.05-1.44, p = 0.011) and among 992 patients with consideration(s) for aCRT (aHR 1.85, 95% CI 1.52-2.24, p < 0.001).

Missed aRT following upfront laryngectomy for LSCC occurs frequently and portends worse OS. Identifying patients at risk of off-guideline management may create opportunities for quality improvement in the multidisciplinary care of patients undergoing upfront laryngectomy for LSCC.

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