Inhibition of stomal recurrence in laryngectomy with preoperative far therapy. A statistical evaluation.

FAR therapy is effective for cancers of the head and neck, in particular laryngeal cancer. This combined chemoradiotherapy consists of 5-FU, vitamin A and radiation. We found 10% stomal recurrences in reviewing 112 patients who had been treated with total laryngectomy. Stomal recurrences after total laryngectomy occur frequently in patients undergoing an emergency tracheotomy. We studied 33 such patients divided into 2 groups, on the basis of whether laryngectomy had been carried out after the emergency tracheotomy plus preoperative FAR therapy, or whether laryngectomy had been carried out without preoperative FAR therapy. The incidence of stomal recurrence was less among those given preoperative FAR therapy and was statistically significant. Such being the case, preoperative FAR therapy seems to e prophylactically effective against stomal recurrence after emergency tracheotomy.