Time to initiation of postoperative radiotherapy as a prognostic factor in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer
Main Article Content
Keywords
Squamous laryngeal cancer, postoperative radiotherapy, time to initiation of radiotherapy, delay, survival
Abstract
Introduction: Among the factors that play a role in the survival and recurrence of disease of patients with operated squamous laryngeal cancer is the time to initiation of postoperative radiotherapy (RT). Aim: To determine the impact of delayed onset of postoperative RT on survival and disease recurrence in patients with advanced operated squamous laryngeal cancer. Material and Method: Retrospective cohort study. Collection of data through review of clinical records. Analysis of survival and disease recurrence using the Kaplan-Meier method, comparison of curves with Log-Rank test and Cox regression model for analy- sis of prognostic factors. Results: The waiting time between surgery and the initiation of RT in our hospital realities was 11 weeks. The 5-year specific survival in patients who start RT < 6 weeks after surgery is 33.3% and decreases to 20% in those who start > 6 weeks (p = 0.20). Conclusion: Patients who start RT in more than 6 weeks after surgery do not present a statistically significant difference in prognosis.
