Cervical lymph node recurrence after curative radiation therapy in early laryngeal cancers

Abstract

One hundred and thirty-three patients with early laryngeal cancer received curative radiation therapy at Tenri Hospital from 1983 to 2000. Four patients (3%) experienced cervical lymph node recurrence and had their primary tumor controlled. They underwent salvage treatment including neck dissection. Two of them later had local recurrence and underwent total laryngectomy, which was unsuccessful in one case. The others have been disease-free after salvage treatment. We conclude that cervical lymph nodes recurrence does not indicate total larygectomy at that time if the primary site is clinically disease-free.