The management of laryngeal cancer

Carcinoma of the larynx is best managed in an interdisciplinary centre with wide therapeutic and rehabilitative services. Current management is confused, but may be simplified by consideration of three groups: 1) no fixation of laryngeal structures, 2) fixation of laryngeal structures and extension beyond the larynx, 3) all others including carcinoma in situ, verrucous carcinoma, transglottic tumor, and squamous carcinoma with marked airway obstruction. The rational treatment of Group 1 glottic tumors is primary radiation, which produces 75% crude and 92% corrected five year tumor free survival. If surgery is undertaken as primary treatment or for salvage, a vertical hemilaryngectomy may preserve the voice. Group 1 supraglottic carcinomas may be divided into supraglottic and marginal. Thirty per cent have palpable nodes at diagnosis and a further 20% occult disease in the cervical chain. Irradiation of neck nodes or block dissection is an integral part of treatment. The indications for a supraglottic horizontal partial laryngectomy are outlined. Where indicated this has five year survival figures of 70%. Recurrence is usually in the neck. Marginal tumors have a 50% five year survival rate when treated by conservation surgery combined with pre-operative radiation. Recent radiotherapeutic advances have improved treatment of these lesions. Thirty to 40% of patients with Group 2 tumors have regional metastases at presentation. There are no fixed protocols for treatment of these patients, less than 50% of whom will survive five years tumor free. The difficulty in carrying out a protocol based on pre-operative radiation with planned surgery is outlined. Under optimum conditions treatment should be primary radiation with salvage surgery for failures or recurrence, for the results are almost as good as primary surgery but 30% of larynges are saved. The difficulties of diagnosing recurrent tumor in irradiated tissue are discussed. Care must be taken to recognize that group of patients in whom tissue edema is the result of perichondritis rather than tumor recurrence, because in these patients surgery is extremely hazardous. Problems of diagnosis and methods of treatment of carcinoma in situ, and verrucous carcinoma are described. Transglottic carcinomas are defined and treatment is primary total laryngectomy with appropriate neck dissection. Similarly if tumors are causing major airway obstruction, treatment is by primary laryngectomy.