Upfront surgery vs radiotherapy for laryngeal cancer: descriptive study on the complications from rural cancer centre

Abstract

Background: Significant shifts in therapy paradigms for advanced laryngeal carcinoma have occurred more recently. The number of patients receiving surgery alone has significantly decreased, while the number of patients receiving radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy has significantly increased. Both the treatment modalities have its own advantages and disadvantages. The present study is a consideration to compare the complication rate of both the treatment modalities in the treatment of laryngeal cancer. Methods: The head and neck oncosurgery department at the Kolhapur cancer center in Maharashtra conducted a five-year retrospective record analysis of the patients treated for carcinoma larynx [2017-2022]. The current analysis included all patients with histopathologically confirmed laryngeal cancer. Results: Of the 24 cases if upfront surgery, 8 cases had complications and 8 cases of post RT, 6 cases had complications and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). There was significant difference between the pharynocutaneous fistula rates among the two groups. The rates were higher among post radiotherapy patients (p<0.05). Conclusions: The most common complication among post radiotherapy was pharynocutaneous fistula. The most common complications among upfront surgery were pharynocutaneous fistula and stomal stenosis. Pharynocutaneous fistula was significantly higher among post radiotherapy patients when compared to upfront surgery.