Radiation therapy in early carcinoma of the glottic larynx T1N0M0.

PURPOSE

The Purpose of this report is to present the local control rate and survival of patients treated by radiation therapy for T1N0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 41 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the glottis were treated at the Veterans Administration Medical Center Minneapolis, MN, between 1976 and 1990. Of the 41 patients, 40 are available for retrospective analysis with a minimum of a 2-year follow-up and a median follow-up of 5.8 years. Treatment was given to all the patients by a 4 MeV linear accelerator. The vast majority of the patients were treated with bilateral laryngeal opposed wedged 6 x 6 cm fields with a dose of 1.75 Gy per fraction to a total of 70 Gy in 40 fractions over 56 elapsed treatment days.

RESULTS

The data indicated local control and survival of 92.3 % at 2 years and 91.8 % at 3 years, post irradiation, with ultimate disease-free survival after surgical salvage of 97.4 % and 97.2 % at 2 years and 3 years, respectively. These local control and survival rates are comparable to those published in the literature when a higher fractional dose was given. No patients developed notable complications with our technique.

CONCLUSIONS

A dose of 1.75 Gy to 1.8 Gy per fraction to a total of 70 Gy in 56 elapsed treatment days is well tolerated and yields ultimate disease free-survival of 97.2% at 3 years. This time-dose fractionation could be used safely for treating patients who demonstrate low tolerance to irradiation with a risk of laryngitis, laryngeal edema, or difficulty of swallowing, with a higher fractional dose.