Radiation therapy for early glottic carcinomas.

From 1973 to 1978, 30 cases of early glottic cancers (TINOMO) were treated in the Department of Radiation Therapy, University of Kansas Medical Center. All 30 patients have a minimal follow-up of three years with a mean of 50.2 months, and 26 (86.7%) are alive with no evidence of disease. Radiation therapy failed in three (10%), two of whom were salvaged by subsequent surgery. Thus the overall control rate was 29/30 (96.7%). We recommend primary radiation therapy for these early lesions, reserving operation for cases of unsuccessful radiotherapy.