Prognostic value of vocal cord fixation with respect to treatment in cancers of the supraglottis and pyriform sinus.

Vocal cord fixation in supraglottic and pyriform sinus cancers has, in the past, precluded management by radiotherapy alone. Ninety-eight patients were reviewed to determine the prognostic effect of vocal cord fixation. The predictive value of cord mobility status after 50 Gy was evaluated with respect to treatment modality. For patients treated with radiotherapy alone, cord mobility status was predictive of recurrence, yielding 3 year recurrence rates of 33.3% (mobile) versus 80% (fixed) [p = 0.04]. Mobile cords after 50 Gy had similar recurrence rates (33.3% vs. 40.0%, p = 0.60) whether treated by radiotherapy or radiotherapy/surgery. Radiotherapy alone may be used in cases when fixed cords become mobile after 50 Gy without compromising cure rates or laryngeal function. Combined modality provides the best results when cords remain fixed.