Stage I glottic carcinoma: an analysis of tumour recurrence after primary radiotherapy.

During the period 1978-82, 145 patients with Stage I glottic carcinoma had primary radiotherapy at the Finsen Institute in Copenhagen. Of these, 35 patients developed recurrence, corresponding to a local control rate of 76%. Following salvage surgery a further 14% of the patients became free of disease for a minimum follow-up of 3 1/2 years or until death. A total local control rate of 90% was obtained. Possible prognostic factors in patients developing local recurrence following radiotherapy were assessed. No reliable predictor of treatment failure could be identified: sex, age, haemoglobin concentration, smoking and drinking habits, tumour stage, location, size and differentiation, were all found to be of no significance.