T3 glottic cancer: options and consequences of the options

This report is a review of 106 Stage III glottic cancers treated surgically from January 1971 through December 1980. For analysis of recurrence and cause of death, the patients were assigned to four subgroups as well as considered as a single group. The subgroups were T3,N0, transglottic, all T3 glottic cancers regardless of prior treatment, and all T3 glottic cancers without prior treatment. Of the entire group, 8% either were not dead or had died of something other than cancer; 91% of patients with T3,N0 cancers without prior treatment either were alive or had died of another cancer. In the other subgroups the survivorship was between 80% and 91% with the exception of those with transglottic cancers. The findings in this study are discussed in light of the current controversies related to the stage of disease, particularly the issue of radical radiation with surgery for salvage for T3 glottic cancer.