Relationship between tumour-node-metastasis stage of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and duration of symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship between disease stage and duration of symptoms for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

METHOD

We evaluated retrospectively data from 102 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients seen in the otorhinolaryngology department of the Gazi University School of Medicine between December 1996 and June 2004. Inclusion criteria were a histologic diagnosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, no previous medical, surgical or radiological treatment for carcinoma, and the absence of any other primary tumours or distant metastatic disease.

RESULTS

There was no relationship between duration of symptoms and stage of the disease, both for glottic and supraglottic tumours. When glottic and supraglottic tumours were compared, no significant difference in symptom duration could be found.

CONCLUSION

There is no correlation between symptom duration and the stage of the disease for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. Therefore, symptom duration does not reflect the stage of the tumour.