Management of early glottic cancer

A detailed retrospective analysis of 136 patients with early glottic cancer treated at the University of Louisville, Radiation Center from October, 1953 to December, 1975 was done. Majority of the patients were in the age range of 55 to 74 years. Of them, 89% were male and 85% were Caucasian. The most common histological type was squamous cell carcinoma. The adjusted 5-year survival rate was 84%, with a standard error of 3%. Of these patients, 18% had local failures, and 68% of which were salvaged by surgery. The overall local control rate was 93%. The median time to recurrence was 23 months. There was no case of laryngeal necrosis, and a good function of larynx was achieved in a majority of the patients. Eighteen second cancers were diagnosed in 17 patients during the follow-up. A brief review of the literature is also done in the paper.