Treatment of laryngeal cancer: the permanent challenge.
There are many options to treat larynx cancers. Throughout the 20th century, surgical research has provided many partial surgery techniques (either open surgery or endoscopic CO2 surgery). In parallel, the modification of radiotherapy schedules has notably improved the local control with definitive irradiation. The appearance of active chemotherapy regimens has also modified the concept of treatment for advanced disease, allowing a decrease in the total indications of laryngectomy, although this remains the treatment of choice in some cases. The selection of the most appropriate treatment is based on a multidisciplinary approach. Early diseases may be treated by open surgery, endoscopic laser CO2 surgery or irradiation. Some advanced diseases may be treated by partial surgery, but the majority are theoretically candidates for radical surgery when resectable. In many instances, but not in all, chemotherapy-based larynx-preserving protocols may avoid performing such mutilating surgery. When inoperable, larynx cancers are better treated by combined chemotherapy and irradiation when the performance status of the patient is compatible with such an intensive regimen.
Head and Neck Department, Centre Oscar Lambret, 3, rue Combemale, 59020 Lille, France. jl-lefebvre@o-lambret.fr
Jean Louis
JL
Lefebvre
Bernard
B
Coche-Dequéant
Marian
M
Degardin
Ahmed
A
Kara
Yann
Y
Mallet
Jean
J
Ton Van
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy; D053685:Laser Therapy; D018579:Patient Selection
D002245:Carbon Dioxide