Does prolonged treatment course adversely affect local control of carcinoma of the larynx?

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present local control rates of carcinoma of the larynx in relation to the total treatment course after radical radiation therapy. A total of 1350 patients with laryngeal carcinoma treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital for the past three decades were available for analysis. Treatment courses were divided into two groups: 45 days and > 45 days. The local control rates were compared and evaluated for statistical differences. The data indicated that prolonged treatment course adversely affects local tumor control of both advanced glottic and supraglottic lesions, but to a lesser degree for the early tumors. The study indicated that for optimal local control, radiation treatment should be completed as soon as possible, preferably within 6.5 weeks, either by once- or twice-daily accelerated programs. The local control of early T1 glottic cancer has been exceedingly satisfactory by conventional once-daily radiation therapy. Further improvement by shortening of treatment time for such early lesions will be difficult to assess without a prospective randomized trial.