[Long-term results of radium contact irradiation of laryngeal carcinoma and their relevance in modern therapeutical regimens].

BACKGROUND

Despite the fact that it is widely accepted that a second radiogenic carcinoma might occur after radiotherapy of laryngeal carcinomas, there are only a few long-term follow-up studies published yet.

METHODS

Between 1973 and 1988 193 patients have been treated by radium contact irradiation because of glottic cancer (Tcis, T1, T2). After the cancer had been diagnosed by biopsy, a partial resection of the thyroid cartilage in the shape of a window 16 x 18 mm was carried out and a self-retaining capsule which harbours the radium was brought into position.

RESULTS

190 (181 men and 9 women) out of 193 patients could be followed up. At the time of investigation 109 patients had already died, 66 intercurrently. The actuarial disease free survival rate 5 and 10 years for Tcis/T1 glottic cancers were 84.6% and 83.6%. For T2 carcinomas a rate of 100% was found respectively. The actuarial overall survival rate was 96.8% after 5 and 93.1% after 10 years for Tcis/T1 carcinomas. The T2 carcinomas revealed an actuarial overall survival rate of 100% after 5 and 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

As the results of radium contact irradiation are not better than those which can be achieved by microsurgery or modern irradiation techniques no indication exists for a radium contact irradiation of glottic laryngeal cancer today.