Pretherapeutic staging of recurrent laryngeal carcinoma: clinical findings and imaging studies compared with histopathology.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the accuracy of preoperative imaging studies and clinical and endoscopic examinations for recurrent laryngeal carcinoma evaluation.


METHODS
A retrospective comparative study was performed at a university department on 42 recurrent laryngeal carcinomas. Surgical specimens were cut into whole-organ slices. Histologic findings were compared with the findings of the different preoperative diagnostic modalities.


RESULTS
The craniocaudal tumor spread was correctly evaluated by endoscopy and imaging studies in 52% and 24%, respectively, and the contralateral tumor spread in 50% and 52%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for detection of tumor infiltration of the thyroid was 48%, 88%, and 64% and of the cricoid 47%, 80%, and 67%. The accuracy of recurrent tumor classification (crT) was 50%; most tumors were underclassified.


CONCLUSIONS
The inadequately evaluated tumor spread and the inadequately classified recurrent tumors were underestimated and underclassified in most cases, respectively.
Zbären
Peter
P
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital, Berne, Switzerland. peter.zbaeren@insel.ch
Christe
Andreas
A
Caversaccio
Marco D
MD
Stauffer
Edouard
E
Thoeny
Harriet C
HC
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed