The value of twice yearly bronchoscopy in the work-up and follow-up of patients with laryngeal cancer.
The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the usefulness and feasibility of twice-yearly bronchoscopy and sputum cytology in patients with laryngeal cancer. In 170 selected patients, 500 (both initial and during follow-up) bronchoscopies were performed. There was a maximum follow-up of 34 months. 5 (2.8%) male patients developed lung cancer. In only 2 of them was the diagnosis based on bronchoscopy alone. After treatment with curative intent, both patients developed a recurrent lung carcinoma. According to most patients' experience, regular bronchoscopy is unpleasant. It is concluded that twice-yearly bronchoscopy and sputum cytology in patients with laryngeal cancer is not useful as a routine procedure. At present, chemoprevention of second primary tumours seems the most promising adjunctive treatment modality.
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Academic Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
L
L
Rachmat
G C
GC
Vreeburg
N
N
de Vries
G J
GJ
Hordijk
H
H
Lubsen
J J
JJ
Manni
G B
GB
Snow
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology; D013997:Time Factors