Hypopharyngeal cancer treatment based on definitive radiotherapy: who is suitable for laryngeal preservation?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate prognostic factors for survival and locoregional control in patients with stage I-IVA hypopharyngeal cancer treated with laryngeal preservation radiotherapy.


METHODS
This study was a retrospective analysis of 108 patients with stage I-IVA squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, treated with laryngeal preservation radiotherapy. Actuarial survival, disease-specific survival and local relapse-free survival were calculated, and multivariate analyses were performed using Cox's proportional hazards model.


RESULTS
After a median follow-up duration of 39 months, the five-year local relapse-free survival rate was 35 per cent for all patients, 66 per cent for those with stage I-II disease, 46 per cent for those with stage III disease and 20 per cent for those with stage IVA disease (p = 0.004). Multivariate analyses showed that tumour and node stages were independent prognostic factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with stage I-II disease were suitable for laryngeal preservation radiotherapy. For most patients with stage III-IVA disease, other than those who were T1 N1 or T2 N1, the treatment results were poor.
Chen
S-W
SW
Department of Radiation Therapy, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. vincent1680616@yahoo.com.tw
Tsai
M-H
MH
Yang
S-N
SN
Liang
J-A
JA
Shiau
A-C
AC
Lin
F-J
FJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage / Q000592:standards; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards