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.