Irradiation of Early Carcinoma of the Larynx: Significance of Tumor Extent

Radiation therapy of early carcinoma of the larynx in 100 patients has produced five-year cure rates of 82% in T1lesions and 77% in T2lesions. The local control rates from radiation were 88% and 72%, respectively. Although irradiation was not as effective in controlling T2lesions, the results are comparable to those obtained by hemilaryngectomy. The majority of the patients failing after radiation therapy presented with local recurrence, making early diagnosis of the recurrent lesions critical, since about 75% of these patients can subsequently be cured with a hemilaryngectomy. The major complications observed in these patients appeared in the group treated with orthovoltage therapy. Supervoltage irradiation has allowed the delivery of higher doses with only transient complications.