Background: Up to 30% of patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) present with recurrence after treatment. We analyzed factors associated with the risk of cancer recurrence and prognosis after recurrence.
Methods: A nationwide laryngeal SCC cohort from Finnish university hospitals during 2001 to 2005 with initial successful therapy (n = 316) was analyzed.
Results: Laryngeal SCC recurred in 22% of patients. The median time to recurrence was 9 months, with 90% occurring within 36 months after treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) performance status >0, neck metastasis at presentation, and nonsurgical treatment were independent prognostic factors for recurrence. Patients with local recurrence had a 5-year overall survival (OS) of 53% compared with 5% in patients with regional/distant recurrences. OS for glottic and nonglottic laryngeal SCC recurrence was 45% and 0%, respectively.
Conclusion: The type of treatment affected the risk of recurrence in this retrospective series. Local recurrences carried a chance for successful salvage treatment. Routine follow-up beyond 36 months remains controversial. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 555-563, 2017.
Keywords: laryngeal cancer; prognosis; radiotherapy; recurrence; surgery.
© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.