Re-radiation therapy of recurrent laryngeal cancer

A total of 18 patients with histologically verified recurrent squamous cell laryngeal cancer were included into the study. The main reason for re-radiation therapy was the patients' refusal from surgery. Recurrence occurred from 1 to 19 years. All patients were previously treated with radiation therapy only. A total tumor dose of re-radiation therapy was 40-60 Gy and it depended on radiation-induced reactions and treatment tolerance, a total cumulative dose ranged from 9- to 130 Gy. Re-radiation therapy allowed larynx-conserving surgery to be performed in 5 cases (28 %). These patients are disease-free at a follow-up of 3 years. Ten patients underwent laryngectomy due to tumor recurrence. The wound healed by first intention in 40 % of cases. The 3-year recurrence-free survival rate was 28 %, the overall survival rate was 72 %. Re-radiation therapy of recurrent laryngeal cancer prevents no from performing surgeries in case of re-recurrence but it adversely effects on postoperative wound healing. However, this method of radiation therapy should not be considered as an alternative to organ-conserving surgery.