Carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx: treatment results with radiotherapy alone or with planned neck dissection

Current surgical treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Historically treatment of head and neck cancers involved surgical resection followed by radiation therapy for advanced tumors. Concurrent chemoradiation therapies have shown equal survival to surgical resection with better preservation of function. However, concurrent therapy does entail significant morbidity, and recent advances have been used to minimize that morbidity. Newer tumor specific medical therapies are anticipated to be less toxic while maintaining a high degree of efficacy. For resectable cancer, transoral laser microsurgery is a new trend in surgery for complete resection of tumors with preservation of function. Advanced reconstructive techniques that allow free transfer of soft tissue and bone from all over the body improve the functional and aesthetic outcomes following major ablative surgery. With successful surgical reconstruction, dental and prosthetic rehabilitation choices are enhanced. Advances in rehabilitation of speech following removal of the larynx have improved the quality of life post-laryngectomy patients. With these newer therapies and methods of reconstruction, each patient needs to be carefully evaluated to maximize the possibility of cure and level of function, and minimize the morbidity associated with treatment. Combined chemotherapy and radiation protocols are associated with increased acute and chronic toxicities that may affect the quality of life due to the impact upon oral disease and oral function. Oral care providers must be aware of advances in cancer management and implications for patient care to effectively care for these patients.

Current opinion in diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal carcinoma

Laryngeal carcinoma is the 11th commonest form of cancer in men world-wide, with 121,000 new cases in 1985. More than 95% of all laryngeal malignancies are squamous cell carcinomas. Treatment indications in cancer of the larynx are often controversial, since there are few comparative studies of different available therapeutic approaches. Surgery and radiotherapy are both widely used, and the choice between these two procedures is the most common therapeutic decision which has to be taken. Laryngeal function preservation has gained more and more weight in the last decades and chemotherapy is also a significant component of several curative approaches. In the last decades, several organ-preserving surgical techniques have become available and consequently total laryngectomy results less applied. Regardless of the treatment modality, Tis, T1, T2 laryngeal carcinomas have an 80-90% probability of cure, whereas for more advanced tumours this is approximately 60%. The most effective approach to laryngeal cancer remains prevention and early diagnosis when this cancer is curable with function preserving treatments.

American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline for the Use of Larynx-Preservation Strategies in the Treatment of Laryngeal Cancer

Purpose

To develop a clinical practice guideline for treatment of laryngeal cancer with the intent of preserving the larynx (either the organ itself or its function). This guideline is intended for use by oncologists in the care of patients outside of clinical trials.

Methods

A multidisciplinary Expert Panel determined the clinical management questions to be addressed and reviewed the literature available through November 2005, with emphasis given to randomized controlled trials of site-specific disease. Survival, rate of larynx preservation, and toxicities were the principal outcomes assessed. The guideline underwent internal review and approval by the Panel, as well as external review by additional experts, members of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Health Services Committee, and the ASCO Board of Directors.

Results

Evidence supports the use of larynx-preservation approaches for appropriately selected patients without a compromise in survival; however, no larynx-preservation approach offers a survival advantage compared with total laryngectomy and adjuvant therapy with rehabilitation as indicated.

Recommendations

All patients with T1 or T2 laryngeal cancer, with rare exception, should be treated initially with intent to preserve the larynx. For most patients with T3 or T4 disease without tumor invasion through cartilage into soft tissues, a larynx-preservation approach is an appropriate, standard treatment option, and concurrent chemoradiotherapy therapy is the most widely applicable approach. To ensure an optimum outcome, special expertise and a multidisciplinary team are necessary, and the team should fully discuss with the patient the advantages and disadvantages of larynx-preservation options compared with treatments that include total laryngectomy.

Staging of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer: value of imaging studies

Imaging methods assist in the pre-treatment planning of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal neoplasms, by better defining the local extension of infiltrating tumours and by detecting subclinical neck adenopathies. Imaging has also an important role in excluding or detecting distant metastasis. Furthermore, there is evidence that several imaging-derived parameters can be used as predictors of locoregional control after radiotherapy, and this independently from the TN classification. Such prognostic information is helpful in determining the relative value of surgery and radiation therapy, in selecting patients who may benefit from adjuvant treatment, and in identifying patients at high risk for recurrence to be followed up more closely.

Therapeutic Options in Advanced Laryngeal Cancer: An Overview

Historically, patients with advanced laryngeal cancer have been treated with radical surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy. Intensive surgical research has allowed surgeons to deal with almost any local extension and to propose an appropriate surgical procedure for each case. Several function-sparing surgical options are available to treat moderately advanced/advanced laryngeal cancer. Better understanding of the anatomy and biology of cancer in this anatomical site has enabled us to devise effective oncological strategies associated with a great effort to preserve laryngeal function. Numerous efforts have been made to augment the therapeutic armamentarium with the addition of chemotherapeutic agents combined with radiation therapy. For advanced laryngeal cancer, the debate is still open between partial/subtotal surgical procedures, which are more efficient but sacrifice parts of the larynx, and radiotherapy/chemoradiation protocols which can preserve the larynx and its function even though it requires radical surgery for salvage. Efforts should be made to select patients properly, in an individual basis, based on tumor characteristics, clinical aspects, patient's expectations, and the expertise of the head and neck oncologic team for the various therapeutic strategies in order to get better oncological results in association with the preservation of the laryngeal form and function, when possible.

Laringuectomía supraglótica. Todavía en la brecha

INTRODUCTION

Horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy (HSL) allows the preservation of a functioning larynx and avoids a permanent tracheostoma. Its use and training have been conditioned by the employment of organ preservation programs and endoscopic laser surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To show functional and oncological long-term results of HSL.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

110 patients treated with HSL with a minimum of 5 years follow-up.

RESULTS

Local control, 89% for T1, 91% for T2, 80% for T3 and 91% for T4. Regional control 80.9%. Cause specific survival, 77.6%, 72.6% and 67% at 3, 5 and 10 years, significantly influenced by N-stage. Functional larynx preservation, 87%, with a 8.5% of non-decanulated patients.

CONCLUSION

HSL is a safe surgical procedure, with similar functional and oncological results to other therapeutic options. Its indications should be considered according to own experience and results.

Therapeutic management of laryngeal cancer. Results of a study of 356 patients from the Cancer Registry of the Somme, France

CONCLUSIONS

The global survival rate was low compared to those reported in the literature, in which the analyzed populations were selected according to the tumor stage or treatment. This study should be prolonged and should also involve other cancer registries in France in order to increase the number of patients and to analyze tumors of comparable stage and therapeutic management.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the survival rate of a non-selected laryngeal cancer population from the Cancer Registry of the Somme, a French region.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 356 patients were included in a retrospective study covering the period 1987-1997. Survival and prognostic factors were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, the Cox model and the chi2 test.

RESULTS

The 5-year global survival rate was 42% for males and 55% for females. Tumor localization, T, N and M stages and surgery were found to be significant prognostic factors. Sex and age were not statistically significant factors. For stage I tumors, surgery alone gave better results than radiotherapy alone in terms of global survival. No difference occurred in terms of local recurrence. A similar comparison was not possible for stage II-IV tumors owing to the small number of cases.

Extended and standard supraglottic laryngectomies: a review of 110 patients

The purpose of this study was to compare functional and oncological results of extended and standard supraglottic laryngectomies. One hundred ten patients with supraglottic carcinoma were treated. A standard supraglottic laryngectomy (SSL), a laterally extended supraglottic laryngectomy (LESL) and an anteriorly extended supraglottic laryngectomy (AESL) were performed on 32, 47 and 31 patients, respectively. Indications for postoperative radiotherapy included positive surgical margins (23% of patients) and/or node metastasis (63% of patients). Local recurrence occurred in 13% of SSL, 15% of LESL and 17% of AESL patients. Pulmonary complications due to aspiration were observed in 6% of SSL, 15% of LESL and 19% of AESL. The overall 5-year cure rates were 63% for SSL, 45% for LESL and 47% for the AESL procedures. Extended supraglottic laryngectomies provided as good a local tumor control as SSL. Extension to the hypopharynx (LESL) and to the vallecula (AESL) showed more frequent pulmonary complications and reduced cure rates.

Supraglottic Laryngeal Cancer: Analysis of Treatment Results

OBJECTIVE

This study reports the results of treatment for supraglottic laryngeal cancer with nine different treatment modalities with long-term follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study of 653 patients with supraglottic laryngeal squamous cell cancer treated from April 1955 to January 1999.

METHODS

The study population included previously untreated patients with cancer of the supraglottic larynx treated with curative intent by one of nine treatment modalities and who were eligible for 5-year follow-up. The treatment modalities included subtotal supraglottic laryngectomy (SSL), SSL with neck dissection (SSL/ND), total laryngectomy (TL), TL/ND, radiation therapy (RT), SSL/RT, SSL/ND/RT, TL/RT, and TL/ND/RT. Multiple diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up parameters were studied using standard statistical analysis to determine significance.

RESULTS

None of the nine treatment modalities produced a survival advantage, either overall or within the stages. Overall disease specific survival (DSS) by treatment modality included SSL 88.9%, SSL/ND 75.8%, TL 83.3%, TL/ND 66.7%, RT 47.2%, SSL/RT 68.9%, SSL/ND/RT 68.1%, TL/RT 59.3%, and TL/ND/RT 46.7%. Improved DSS and cumulative disease specific survival rates were associated with patients under the age of 65 years (P = .0001), early stage disease, N0 disease (P = .0001), clear resection margins (P = .0094), and no recurrence (P = .0001). Posttreatment function showed that 90% of patients were functional in everyday life, 90.7% were eating satisfactorily, 91.4% were breathing naturally, and 83% of SSL patients, 85.7% of RT patients, and 52.8% of TL patients had "good" voices. Laryngeal preservation was accomplished in 86.1% of SSL patients and 72.7% of RT patients (P = .0190).

CONCLUSIONS

No treatment modality produced a survival advantage. Because SSL produced the best rate of laryngeal preservation, we recommend its use in treating the primary in eligible patients. The importance of clear resection margins is stressed. Patients with N+ disease should have the neck treated. Patients with N0 disease may be observed safely with no loss of survival advantage. Because of the pattern of recurrence and the high rates of distant metastasis and second primary cancers, follow-up for a period of not less than 8 years is recommended.

The management of early laryngeal cancer: options for patients and therapists

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To evaluate the optimal treatment of early laryngeal cancer and to highlight new developments.

RECENT FINDINGS

The use of hyperfractionation and acceleration of radiotherapy may result in improved outcomes for patients with respect to cancer cure and preservation of the larynx. Options for surgical treatment include endoscopic resection and open partial laryngectomy. The use of endoscopic vertical partial laryngectomy may overcome the difficulties encountered in exposure with transoral laser resection of anterior commissure tumors. The microdebrider may be a useful alternative to CO(2) laser in endoscopic resection in selected cases. A further treatment option that shows promising results is photodynamic therapy, which has some important advantages over the other treatment modalities. Further larger studies are needed to assess the efficacy of these treatment modalities to ascertain the treatment modality of choice.

SUMMARY

Different treatment modalities are available for early laryngeal cancer. The treatment choice should take into account the likely post-treatment morbidity, quality of life, patient preference, and voice quality. The cost of treatment, not only to the treating institution but also to the patient and those involved in the patient's care at home, is also an important issue. Well-designed randomized multicenter controlled trials are now necessary to influence patients' and clinicians' decision in the choice of the most effective and predictable treatment plan.

Review of current treatment practices for carcinoma of the head and neck

The past two decades have witnessed a paradigm shift in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Innovation in chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery has led to the assimilation of these modalities into our treatment algorithms. This modern multipart treatment plan has led to improved survival; however, this has come at the cost of increased toxicity. New and future therapies will be more tumour specific and, ideally, less toxic. Current research centres on these tumour-specific therapies with the anticipation of improved survival with decreased toxicity. This article will review the standard of care, recent advances and unfulfilled needs in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Paragangliomas of the head and neck: diagnosis and treatment

Paragangliomas of the head and neck (HNP) represent rare tumors of neural crest origin. They are highly vascular neoplasms that are benign in the majority of cases. The site of origin defines the name given those tumors. In the head and neck, they most commonly occur at the carotid bifurcation, where they are referred to as carotid body tumors (CBT). Other common sites of origin are the jugular bulb (jugular paraganglioma; JP), the tympanic plexus on the promontory (tympanic paraganglioma; TP) and the vagal nerve (vagal paraganglioma; VP). Patients with cervical paragangliomas frequently present with a painless, slowly enlarging mass in the lateral neck. In many patients with TP and JP, tinnitus and hearing loss are early symptoms. JP patients often suffer from lower cranial nerve deficits. Evaluation by an imaging modality is necessary to establish the diagnosis. Imaging procedures frequently used include B-mode sonography with color-coded Doppler sonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and digital substraction angiography (DSA). Debate exists in the literature regarding the different treatment modalities for paragangliomas which include surgery, radiotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery. The role of preoperative angiography and embolization has also been a matter of discussion. The diagnostic work up and the different treatment options for patients with head and neck paragangliomas will be presented and discussed.

Estimation of an optimal external beam radiotherapy utilization rate for head and neck carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Radiotherapy is used commonly in the treatment of patients with head and neck carcinoma. The benchmark radiotherapy utilization rates for head and neck carcinoma largely are unknown. The objective of the current study was to determine the optimal radiotherapy utilization rate for patients with head and neck carcinoma and to compare this optimal rate with actual utilization rates where actual utilization data were available.

METHODS

An optimal radiotherapy utilization tree was constructed that depicted all patients with head and neck carcinoma in whom radiotherapy was indicated according to evidence-based treatment guidelines. The proportions of patients with clinical attributes that indicated possible benefit from radiotherapy were obtained from epidemiological data and were inserted into the utilization tree. The optimal proportion of patients with carcinoma of the head and neck who should receive radiotherapy was calculated by merging the evidence-based recommendations with the epidemiological data in the tree. Optimal rates of radiotherapy utilization were compared with actual rates obtained from population-based studies.

RESULTS

Radiotherapy was indicated at some point during their illness in 74% of all patients with head and neck carcinoma. By subsite, the optimal radiotherapy utilization rates were oral cavity, 74%; lip, 20%; larynx, 100%; oropharynx, 100%; salivary gland, 87%; hypopharynx, 100%; nasopharynx, 100%; paranasal sinuses, 100%; and unknown squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, 90%. All treatment recommendations were based on Level III or IV evidence. Assessment of actual radiotherapy utilization rates indicated an increased use of radiotherapy over time for head and neck carcinoma. However, there also were some decreases in the use of radiotherapy for some carcinoma subsites over the past 20 years, despite the lower actual rates compared with the optimal rates. The reasons for these reductions in use were not identified.

CONCLUSIONS

The actual radiotherapy utilization rate for patients with head and neck carcinoma corresponded reasonably closely to the optimal rate for some populations but also identified some shortfalls for other patient groups. The results of this study provide a way of assessing shortfalls in radiotherapy.

Reirradiation of recurrent head and neck cancers with curative intent

In patients with recurrent, previously irradiated head and neck cancer, the traditional therapy of palliative single- or multi-agent chemotherapy yields a 30% to 40% response rate with median survival durations of 8 to 10 months. However, long-term survival is rarely observed. Reirradiation with or without concurrent chemotherapy is currently under investigation as a treatment option in these patients. While reirradiation without chemotherapy appears to be effective in recurrent nasopharynx cancer cases, the use of concomitant chemotherapy with reirradiation appears to offer improved outcomes based on phase I/II data in other head and neck sites. Recent studies indicate that long-term survival of patients is possible following reirradiation in a minority of cases despite severe acute and chronic toxicities. Reirradiation with chemotherapy is appropriate for patients with a goal of long-term local control of disease and curative intent, despite the risk of significant acute and late toxicities.

Factors Predictive of Local Disease Control after Intra-arterial Concomitant Chemoradiation (RADPLAT)

OBJECTIVES

To determine the relative risk of prognostic factors for local disease control following RADPLAT.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective study, academic medical center.

METHODS

Analyses of nine categories of risk factors among 240 patients with Stage II-IV carcinoma consecutively treated with RADPLAT (cisplatin 150 mg/m IA and sodium thiosulfate 9 g/m IV, weekly x4; radiotherapy 2 Gy/fraction/d, 5x weekly, 68-74 Gy over 6 to 7 weeks). Median follow-up: 58 months (range, 12-96 mo).

RESULTS

The percentage of patients who had local disease control was 87.5%. Univariant analysis showed T classification (P =.01), laterality of neck disease (P =.026), number of neck levels involved (P =.008), total dose of radiation greater versus less than 60 Gy (P =.027), and presence of pathologically positive lymph nodes following chemoradiation (P =.01) to be significant. Logistic regression analysis showed total dose of radiation (P =.03) and the presence of pathologically positive lymph nodes following chemoradiation (P =.05) to be significant. For Kaplan-Meier estimates of local disease control at 5 years, T classification (P =.038), number of levels with nodal disease (P =.006), and total dose of radiation therapy (P =.0001) were significant. The log-rank test identified as significant the total dose of radiation therapy (P <.0001), the presence of pathologically positive lymph nodes following chemoradiation (P =.005), and the number of neck levels with positive nodes (P =.006). The Cox regression model showed significance for the total dose of radiation (P =.001), the presence of pathologically positive lymph nodes following chemoradiation (P =.007), and the T classification (P =.029).

CONCLUSION

Risk factors significantly associated with local disease control after RADPLAT appears to differ from more traditional therapy and is suggestive of a paradigm shift.

Definitive radiotherapy alone or combined with a planned neck dissection for squamous cell carcinoma of the pharyngeal wall

BACKGROUND

In the current study,the authors analyzed the results of definitive radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the pharyngeal wall.

METHODS

Between 1964 and 2000, 148 patients were treated with definitive radiotherapy. All patients had a 2-year minimum follow-up.

RESULTS

The following 5-year rates of local and ultimate local control were obtained: T1 disease, 93% and 93%; T2 disease, 82% and 87%; T3 disease, 59% and 61%; and T4 disease, 50% and 50%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that twice-daily fractionation (P = 0.0009), American Joint Committee on Cancer Stage I-II disease (P = 0.0051), and oropharyngeal primary site (P = 0.0193) were associated with improved locoregional control. The following 5-year absolute and cause-specific survival rates were obtained: Stage I, 56% and 89%; Stage II, 52% and 88%; Stage III, 24% and 44%; Stage IV, 22% and 34%; and overall, 30% and 49%, respectively. Eight patients (5%) died of complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Locoregional control and survival were found to be related to site, extent of disease, and fractionation schedule. Although outcomes have improved in recent years, the morbidity of treatment was significant in the current study and a substantial proportion of patients died secondary to the malignancy.