Squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx treated with radical irradiation: analysis of treatment parameters and results.

Eighty-one patients were treated with radical radiation therapy, with or without immediate neck dissection(s), for squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx from October 1964 through May 1981. There is a 2-year minimum follow-up on all patients; 75/81 (93%) have a minimum 3-year follow-up, and 58/81 (72%) have at least a 5-year follow-up. Patients were staged according to the 1983 AJCC staging system. Patients were excluded from the local control analysis if they died less than 2 years from treatment with the primary site controlled. The initial local control rates and ultimate local control rates after surgical salvage of irradiation failures were as follows: T1, 11/12 (92%) and 12/12 (100%); T2, 20/26 (77%) and 23/26 (88%); T3, 9/14 (64%) and 11/14 (79%); and T4, 2/11 (18%) and 5/11 (45%). The incidence of severe complications was 3/81 (3.7%). The 5-year absolute and determinate survival rates by AJCC stage were as follows: I, 6/12 (50%) and 6/6 (100%); II, 5/6 (83%) and 5/5 (100%); III, 4/8 (50%) and 4/5 (80%); and IV, 6/32 (19%) and 6/26 (23%).