Partial vs Whole Laryngeal Radiotherapy for Clinical Stage T1-2N0M0/Tis Laryngeal Carcinoma

Is the efficacy of partial laryngeal radiotherapy (PLRT) treated in patients with clinical stage T1-2N0M0/Tis laryngeal carcinoma similar to whole laryngeal radiotherapy (WLRT)?This cohort study including 233 patients with clinical stage T1-2N0M0/Tis laryngeal carcinoma found that there were no statistically significant differences between PLRT and WLRT in 3-year locoregional control rates (90.8% vs 85.4%) nor overall survival (91.4% vs 88.9%). PLRT was associated with lower acute dysphagia and late fibrosis rates, and median composite scores on the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory at 3 and 6 months postradiotherapy were higher in PLRT, although this difference did not reach clinically important threshold levels.These findings suggest that PLRT may be associated with lower rates of acute toxic effects compared to WLRT, without compromising local regional control; however, further research is warranted because wide confidence intervals across all end points, lack of adjustment for confounding factors, and important differences in follow-up times prevented definitive conclusions.

Corresponding Author: Nancy Y. Lee, MD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10065 (leen2@mskcc.org).

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