The incidence and etiology of postlaryngectomy pharyngocutaneous fistulae.

BACKGROUND: The pharyngocutaneous fistula is troublesome complication after total laryngectomy. Despite a large number of studies, there is still disagreement on factors predisposing to this complication. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of pharyngocutaneous fistulas in 133 patients in whom total laryngectomy was performed. RESULTS: Fistulas were found in 15% of the patients. Spontaneous closure was noted in 80%. Simultaneous laryngectomy and partial pharyngectomy or neck dissection increased the risk of fistula formation. Preoperative irradiation, short interval between radiotherapy and operation, and cobalt/roentgen radiation instead of photons predispose to this complication. The fistulas appeared earlier, and the sizes of fistulas were significantly larger in patients with previous irradiation than those in patients with no preoperative irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistulas significantly increase patients' morbidity and hospital stay. Good surgical technique and postoperative treatment should be paid attention to patients with an increased risk of pharyngocutaneous fistula formation.

Surgical management of irradiation failures in T1-T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyse the results of salvage surgery after failure of irradiation to control the primary T1-T2 glottic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-eight patients with T1 and T2 squamous cell cancer of the glottic larynx were treated with curative intent by radiotherapy. The tumour recurred in 22 of the 98 (22%) patients. Surgical management consisted of total and frontolateral laryngectomy. Survival rates were calculated from the date of the salvage operation. RESULTS: Two of the 22 patients refused to undergo salvage surgery and one patient had pulmonary metastasis. Of the 19 patients who underwent salvage surgery, 14 (74%) had total laryngectomy and 5 (26%) had frontolateral laryngectomy. The operations were curative in 15 (79%) of the 19 patients. The overall 5-year survival rate after surgery was 78%. CONCLUSION: Stringent follow-up of patients with irradiated T1 and T2 glottic laryngeal cancer is essential to permit a successful salvage.

Hypothyroidism after radiotherapy for laryngeal cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence of hypothyroidism after radiotherapy of laryngeal cancer, including the possible factors that could predict the onset of hypothyroidism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report this study on patients treated by radiotherapy as part of the treatment for laryngeal cancer in the Department of Oncology in Eastern Finland. Sixty-five males and seven females were treated with radiotherapy between 1974-1995.Thyroid function was determined by measuring serum thyroid stimulating hormone, and serum free thyroxine (FT4). The studied risk factors for hypothyroidism included age, treatment modalities, radiation dose and energy, height of the radiation field, and follow-up time. RESULTS: Hypothyroidism was detected in 17 (24%) of the 72 patients. Hypothyroidism was clinically unsuspected in all but one patient. Hypothyroidism was more common, if the height of the radiation field was >/=7 cm, or the patient had been operated. Hypothyroidism was less common if less than a half of the thyroid bed was irradiated. CONCLUSION: The detection of hypothyroidism clinically is difficult, and the rate of hypothyroidism warrants routine assessment of thyroid function after irradiation of laryngeal cancer.

Is the subsite distribution of laryngeal cancer related to smoking habits?

In Finland traditionally as many as two-thirds of laryngeal cancers have been considered to be supraglottic, while in other countries the majority are glottic. The Finnish observation is based on clinical series diagnosed and treated mainly before the 1960s. The aim of our study was to evaluate the present situation. This study consisted of 279 patients treated in Eastern Finland between 1975 and 1994 and included 145 (52%) glottic, 124 (44%) supraglottic and 10 (4%) subglottic tumours in 260 (93%) men and 19 (7%) women. During this study period, the proportion of glottic tumours remained stable in men but increased in women. The change in smoking habits seems to be the most important reason for the shift from supraglottic to glottic tumours.

Cancer risk after adjuvant chemo- or chemohormonal therapy of breast cancer.

This study is based on 194 patients with primary breast cancer treated with adjuvant CNF combination chemotherapy, who were followed-up for the risk of subsequent neoplasms. During an average follow-up of 4.8 years, 16 cases of new cancers were detected. Nine non-breast cancers were observed versus 2.2 expected (standardized incidence ratio 4.2). Of the patients with subsequent malignancies, 88% had received antiestrogen (chemohormonal adjuvant therapy); the percentage among all patients was 25%. We conclude that the benefit derived from adjuvant therapy of breast cancer may be reduced because of an increased risk of subsequent cancers.

Hepatic toxicity caused by adjuvant CMF/CNF in breast cancer patients and reversal by tamoxifen.

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on liver enzymes in breast cancer patients. Furthermore, the effect of tamoxifen on liver enzymes was analyzed. Liver function tests from 194 breast cancer patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy with or without tamoxifen (TAM) were reviewed. Statistically very significant increases were seen in alkaline phosphatase, aspartate acetyl transferase, and gamma glutamyl transferase levels in these patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. No statistical changes were noticed in bilirubin levels. If tamoxifen was given together with adjuvant chemotherapy, no changes in liver function tests were detected. Hepatic toxicity was induced in breast cancer patients by adjuvant CMF/CNF therapy (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, mitoxantrone). These changes were mostly mild. Adjuvant tamoxifen reduced the increase in liver enzymes caused by adjuvant chemotherapy.

CNF combination as adjuvant treatment in breast cancer patients is well tolerated.

In this study 194 women with breast cancer received adjuvant CNF combination therapy (cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone and 5-fluorouracil). The side effects and acute toxicity of the regimen were recorded. Although myelosuppression is the dose-limiting factor of the CNF regimen, it was well tolerated and side effects were limited. This regimen induced no cardiotoxicity or irreversible alopecia. It is concluded that CNF is suitable as adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer patients.