Laryngeal carcinoma. II. Analysis of treatment results using the Ellis model

An analysis of 308 patients with carcinoma of the larynx was performed with respect to local recurrence and complications in relation to treatment level. The patients received primary irradiation with some difference in absorbed dose but with an equal fractionation schedule. Analysed in subgroups, correlations between local recurrence and treatment level were either demonstrated or strongly indicated. This is confirmed in a comparison with approximately 1 500 cases collected from the literature. Correlations between complications and treatment level were not found, but nevertheless indicated with respect to late edemas, which again are supported by comparison with approximately 800 cases collected from the literature. The risk of pharyngo-cutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy seems to be rather independent of irradiation level, although slightly dependent on field size. An optimum level of treatment has been estimated and brought into use since January 1978.