[Therapy options of advanced laryngeal carcinomas with regard to the quality of life of the patients]

Abstract

Advanced laryngeal carcinomas are in most cases still associated with a very poor prognosis and highly reduced quality of life. This case report shows the various and severe complications that occurred after a total laryngectomy in spite of intensive medical treatment. Currently the development and introduction of new organ preserving procedures in advanced laryngeal cancer, without a loss of the prognostical outcome, represents one of the most up to date clinical oncological fields of research in head and neck cancer. This case report critically scrutinizes the current options of therapy available for patients suffering from advanced laryngeal carcinomas, as it is essential in the author's opinion that the decision on treatment is made within the scope of an intensive interdisciplinary strategy of therapy, and is reached by including all possible options available in order to achieve the best possible quality of life for the patients.