OBJECTIVES: Smoking is a known risk factor for laryngeal carcinoma. We sought to describe the clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes of nonsmoking patients with laryngeal carcinoma. METHODS: Of 1,443 patients treated for laryngeal carcinoma between 1960 and 2006, 55 (3.8%) were nonsmokers: 40 (73%) had never smoked and 15 (27%) had stopped smoking 12 years or more before diagnosis. Patient characteristics and outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 87% men; the mean age at diagnosis was 67 years. All lesions but one were located in the glottis. The 5-year survival rate for the whole group was 85%. Most tumors were detected early. Of 38 patients (69%) with stage T1 disease, there was no significant difference in prognostic features between those who had never smoked and those who had smoked in the past. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer than 5% of patients with laryngeal carcinoma were nonsmokers. Like smokers, this subgroup was characterized by a male predominance and an approximate age at diagnosis in the seventh decade. Unlike smokers, nonsmokers show a greater predilection for glottic rather than supraglottic disease. There was no difference in prognosis between smokers and nonsmokers, regardless of whether they had smoked in the past.
OBJECTIVES: Smoking is a known risk factor for laryngeal carcinoma. We sought to describe the clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes of nonsmoking patients with laryngeal carcinoma. METHODS: Of 1,443 patients treated for laryngeal carcinoma between 1960 and 2006, 55 (3.8%) were nonsmokers: 40 (73%) had never smoked and 15 (27%) had stopped smoking 12 years or more before diagnosis. Patient characteristics and outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 87% men; the mean age at diagnosis was 67 years. All lesions but one were located in the glottis. The 5-year survival rate for the whole group was 85%. Most tumors were detected early. Of 38 patients (69%) with stage T1 disease, there was no significant difference in prognostic features between those who had never smoked and those who had smoked in the past. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer than 5% of patients with laryngeal carcinoma were nonsmokers. Like smokers, this subgroup was characterized by a male predominance and an approximate age at diagnosis in the seventh decade. Unlike smokers, nonsmokers show a greater predilection for glottic rather than supraglottic disease. There was no difference in prognosis between smokers and nonsmokers, regardless of whether they had smoked in the past.
Authors: Ian-James Malm; Lisa M Rooper; Justin A Bishop; Selmin Karatayli Ozgursoy; Alexander T Hillel; Lee M Akst; Simon R Best Journal: Am J Otolaryngol Date: 2018-11-22 Impact factor: 1.808