Short intensive preoperative course of irradiation in advanced supraglottic cancer

ABSTRACT

55 patients with T3 and T4 supraglottic carcinoma were studied. These patients were classified into three groups according to the treatment modality. Patients in group A had received a short intensive preoperative course of irradiation [21 Gy in 7 equal daily fractions of 3 Gy] followed within 4-6 days by total laryngectomy [SICI + S]. Patients in group B had received full curative doses of irradiation [60-70 Gy in 6-7 weeks] followed by salvage laryngectomy [FCCRT + S] due either to a residual lesion or an early recurrence. A third group C comprised patients treated by total laryngectomy alone without antecedent irradiation. A short intensive course of irradiation followed by total laryngectomy [SICI + S] gave a better loco- regional control rate than those of the other two groups. There was less incidence of fistulae in comparison with group B and an improvement in lymph node control in comparison with groups B and C