Laryngeal carcinoma in younger patients

During the period 1976-1988, 988 patients were treated surgically for laryngeal cancer of whom 61 were below the age of 40 years. In 29 patients the tumour was localized in the supraglottis, and in 32 in the glottis. T1 tumour was present in 32 (52.46 per cent), and T2 tumour in six (9.84 per cent) patients. Advanced T3 and T4 tumours were present in 13 (21.31 per cent), and (16.39 per cent) patients respectively. The majority had clinically negative findings in the neck (N0). Conservative or reconstructive surgery was applied in 39 (63.93 per cent), and radical in 22 (36.07 per cent) patients. Planned post-operative radiotherapy was carried out in 28 (45.90 per cent) patients. The five-year survival rate of the studied patients was 83.61 per cent (51/61). The five-year survival rate of the patients with laryngeal carcinomas within the same period was 68.32 per cent (675/988). There was no significant difference in survival rate: X2 = 0.018, DF = 1, p > 0.05.