Radiation Therapy for Early Glottic Carcinoma: Factors Influencing the Outcome

To evaluate the influence of mid treatment hemoglobin level with the other prognostic factors on the outcome in patients with TisT1N0 glottic carcinoma treated with radiotherapy (RT). Between October 1995 and December 2008, a total of 84 patients diagnosed with Tis-T1N0 glottic carcinoma were treated with definitive RT. The influence of tumor, treatment, and patient-related factors on local control (LC) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. The median follow up time was 30 months (ranges, 4-180 months). Local and/or locoregional relapse was observed in 11 patients (13%) (3 locoregional and 8 local). The estimated 5and 10-year LC and OS rates were 87%, 85%, and 87%, 70% for the entire study group, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that older age (≥50 years) and the use of wedge-filter were found to be favorably influencing the LC (p= 0.025 and p= 0.030, respectively). Mid treatment hemoglobin level more than 13 g/dl was determined statistically significant for improving both LC and OS (p= 0.011 and p= 0.021). Older age and use of wedge filter were found to be independent prognostic factors for LC. Mid treatment hemoglobin level of more than 13 g/dl was correlated to superior LC and OS rates. Monitoring the changes of hemoglobin levels during therapy has to be considered to improve the outcome.