Supraglottic carcinoma: patterns of recurrence.

A retrospective review of 202 patients with supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma and at least 2 years of follow-up was performed. Surgery alone was used to treat 102 patients, and combined therapy in 100 patients. Local-regional failure occurred in 47 (23%) patients. Only 4 patients (2%) developed recurrence at the primary site. The neck was the most common site for recurrent disease (39/47 or 83%), which in 35 patients appeared in the undissected, contralateral side. The risk to the contralateral side of the neck in patients with midline (epiglottic) lesions was similar to that in those with unilateral (aryepiglottic fold) lesions. Supraglottic laryngectomy, when properly selected, did not compromise primary control in the larynx. Radiation therapy was ineffective in controlling metastasis to the contralateral side of the neck in 16 of 99 patients (16%). Therefore, routine bilateral neck dissection should be considered in the surgical treatment of supraglottic carcinoma for control of regional disease.