Maximum utilization of the life table method in analyzing laryngeal cancer survival

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed at employing the actuarial life table survival technique to investigate the life expectance of cancer larynx patients with analysis of certain parameters that may affect the survival. Information were collected from the records of 378 patients presenting with malignant neoplasms of larynx and treated at the Radiotherapy Department in Alexandria University Hospital. Part of the follow-up was done retrospectively using the patient record and partly prospectively through home visits interviews. Cancer larynx patients were expected to survive a 5-year with a rate of 45.l2% and its standard error was 2.96%. When computing the confidence limits the true 5-year survival rate for the population lies between 39.32% and 50.92%. Description of the survival experience of specified subgroups was done by computing the survival rates and its standard error by site, clinical stage and type of treatment. Significantly higher survival rates of glottic cancer cases in comparison to sub and supraglottic tumour cases was found. On comparing the rates by clinical stage, the survival rates of stage II were significantly higher than of stage III since the fourth year of observation, while no significant difference between cases treated by radiation and those treated by combined therapy was found