The relationship between tumor thickness and clinical and histopathologic parameters in cancer of the larynx.

Abstract

We sought to determine the relationship of tumor thickness to clinical and histopathologic parameters in laryngeal cancer. Study design and setting We conducted a retrospective review of laryngectomy specimens of 111 surgically treated T1-3 laryngeal cancer patients for tumor thickness and various histopathologic parameters. Tumor thickness was significantly related to T, N, and clinical stage; pathologic cervical lymph node metastasis; cartilage invasion; microscopic appearance; mode of invasion to surrounding tissues; perineural invasion; and lymphocytic infiltration (P < 0.05). Tumor thickness had significant correlation with T, N, and clinical stage; cervical lymph node metastasis; cartilage invasion; mode of invasion to surrounding tissues; perineural invasion; and lymphocytic infiltration (P < 0.05). Multifactorial statistical analysis showed that cartilage invasion and lymphocytic infiltration significantly determined tumor thickness independently (P < 0.05). Tumor thickness is well correlated to most of the reliable clinical and histopathologic parameters, and it is an objective and easy-to-obtain measure. Tumor thickness can be used as a reliable histopathological factor and should be measured in every laryngectomy specimen.