[Treatments and outcomes of 10 cases of subglottic cancer and literature review].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Subglottic cancer is rare. The subglottic region of the larynx is occult, which leads to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis of subglottic cancer. It is usually advanced when initially presented. There is no large amount case-control study on subglottic cancer, and management of this tumor is still controversial. This study was to analyze the clinical features, treatments, and outcomes of subglottic cancer.

METHODS

Clinical records of 10 subglottic cancer patients, treated in Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University from Jan. 1981 to Oct. 2005, were reviewed.

RESULTS

Of the 10 patients, 4 had intralaryngeal invasion of more than half circle, 4 had extralaryngeal invasion, and 1 had lymph node metastasis. The patients were followed up for 1-15 years; 1 was lost. The overall 5-year survival rate was 55.5% (5/9). Excepted for the 2 patients denied treatment, the 5-year survival rate of the 7 treated patients was 71.4%, the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 42.9%. The 5-year disease-free survival was 0/2 for the patients received radiotherapy alone, 1/2 for those received operation alone, and 2/3 for those received both treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Subglottic cancer is usually advanced when diagnosed, and tends to extend within the larynx and infiltrate other organs. The prognosis is poor. Total laryngectomy is still the main operation for subglottic cancer, and operation combined with radiotherapy is better than single treatment.