Radiotherapy in carcinoma of the larynx
Tsyganov, A.I.
Annales d'Oto-Laryngologie et de Chirurgie Cervico Faciale Bulletin de la Societe d'Oto-Laryngologie des Hopitaux de Paris 97(7-8): 591-595
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-438X PMID: 7469288 Document Number: 168343
At the present time there are two methods of treating cancer of the larynx: surgery and radiotherapy. Although surgery is often indicated after radiotherapy for a stage III laryngeal cancer, it should not be used systematically when the tumour seems to have disappeared or there is only a small remnant. In numerous cases this remnant disappears during the post-radiotherapy period. Radiotherapy is an effective means of treating cancer of the larynx. When there is chronic oedema or perichondritis after radiotherapy and there is suspicion of a relapse, laryngectomy should only be done after histological confirmation, even if this requires several biopsies. The pathogenesis of post-radiotherapy oedema is discussed.