Cancer recurrence after total laryngectomy: treatment options, survival, and complications.

BACKGROUND A follow-up schedule to detect asymptomatic cancer recurrence is offered to all patients with laryngeal cancer. In this study, the therapeutic options, prognosis, and morbidity of patients with total laryngectomy, who were found to have cancer recurrence during this follow-up schedule were determined. METHODS Patients who had undergone a total laryngectomy between January 1, 1990, and January 1, 2000, and had cancer recurrence were included. Data from this group were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS The prognosis was poor after the development of cancer recurrence. Curative therapy could only be offered to 27.5% of these patients. Only 5% of the patients were disease free at the end of the study period. Many patients with cancer recurrence needed interventions. A large proportion of them had complications. CONCLUSIONS The follow-up schedule offered to patients after total laryngectomy should put greater emphasis on care than on early detection of cancer recurrence.