Treatment of carcinoma of the vocal cord. A review of 20 years experience

Abstract

At the University of California, San Francisco, 323 patients were treated for carcinoma of the vocal cord between January 1956 and December 1975. Patients with early T1 or T2 lesions were treated with radiotherapy or conservative surgery. Patients with T3 or T4 lesions were treated with total laryngectomy, radiation alone, or combined therapy. Of the 247 patients treated with definitive radiotherapy, initial control of the primary lesion was achieved in 100% of T1S, 80% of T1, 52% of T2, and 50% of T3 and T4 lesions. Surgical salvage of radiation failures was 86%, giving ultimate control rates in this group of 100% for T1S, 97% for T1, 91% for T2 and 64% for T3 and T4. Involvement of the anterior commissure did not significantly affect local control or survival rates of the irradiated patients. Voice quality was satisfactory in 95% of controlled patients. Surgery alone was used as the primary treatment modality in 63 patients, with ultimate local control achieved in 75% of T1S, 83% of T1, 85% of T2, 81% of T3 and T4 lesions. Planned combined therapy was successful in 9/13 patients in whom it was used. The overall 3 and 5 year actuarial survival rates were 84% and 77% respectively corresponding determinate survival rates were 90% and 86%.