Cancer of the larynx in Hull and the surrounding area of East Yorkshire.

A study of all patients with cancer of the larynx in a population of 449,430 over ten years shows that supraglottic and epilaryngeal cancer has an almost equal incidence to glottic cancer. There is a relationship between urbanization and the incidence of cancer of the larynx, and between cancer of the larynx and bronchogenic carcinoma. A policy of radiotherapy with surgery held in reserve for supraglottic and epilaryngeal cancer failed at a general hospital, for reasons that have been discussed. Primary surgery is required for most cases of supraglottic and epilaryngeal cancer. Radiotherapy with surgery held in reserve is the most appropriate treatment for the great majority of glottic cancers. When radiotherapy failed to cure the disease palliation was achieved in only a small minority of the cases.