Verrucous carcinoma of the larynx management by radiotherapy and surgery.

Verrucous carcinoma is an unusual and distinct variant of well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and accounts for approximately 1 to 2% of all primary squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx. There has been considerable controversy regarding the role of radiotherapy in the managment of these tumors as they are said to be radioresistant, and in a number of instances "anaplastic transformation" has apparently occurred following such therapy. We have reviewed 18 patients with verrucous carcinoma of the larynx in which eight received surgical therapy alone, eight received radiotherapy alone, and two received combined therapy. We conclude that radiotherapy and surgery are equally effective in eradicating the disease. "Anaplastic transformation" of these tumors represents a small but nevertheless real risk following radiotherapy. Accordingly, our current therapeutic policy is to treat by surgical excision those smaller tumors which can be removed by conservation laryngectomy procedures, reserving radiotherapy for those large tumors which would require total laryngectomy if treated surgically.