Laryngeal Cancer: Report of 6 years cases in Complejo Asistencial Doctor Sótero del Río

Abstract

Introduction: Laryngeal cancer is the second cause of death in otolaryngology. Its treatment in advanced stage is aggressive and controversial. Aim: To report data from patients treated in Complejo Asistencial Doctor Sótero del Río in the period between 2005-2011. Material and method: Descriptive retrospective analysis. Results: 38 patients in total, 30 (79%) men, median age 66 years. The main symptoms were breathing difficulty in 18 patients (47%) and dysphonia in 14 (37%). Every patient completed study and disease staging with nasofibroscopy and computed tomography. 71% presented in advanced stage, among them, 30% received exclusive chemoradiotherapy. Overall survival for 2 and 5-year in advanced stage was 56% and 42% respectively; and 100% and 71% in early stage. Discussion: Advanced laryngeal cancer has low survival rate in spite of aggressive treatments. Alternatives to standard care have been proposed, such as conservative therapy with exclusive chemoradiotherapy or transoral laser microsurgery. Conclusions: Laryngeal cancer's epidemiology remains relatively unchanged and TNM classification still remains fundamental for treatment, specially in the context of new therapeutic alternatives for advanced cancer. Evaluation of these therapies is expected.