Open AccessPredictive Value of Laryngeal Cartilage Sclerosis on CT‐Scan
Author(s) -
Poirier Jackie Bibeau,
Nguyen Félix,
Bélair Ma,
Moubayed Sami P.,
Ayad Tareck
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599811415823a134
Subject(s) - medicine , thyroid cartilage , laryngectomy , larynx , arytenoid cartilage , multiple sclerosis , cartilage , radiology , cricoid cartilage , carcinoma , surgery , anatomy , psychiatry
Objective The value of laryngeal sclerosis as a sign of neoplastic invasion on CT‐scan is controversial. We investigated the value of laryngeal cartilage sclerosis on CT‐scan as a predictor of locoregional control, success of organ preservation, and survival for patients treated with radiation therapy for laryngeal carcinoma. Method Retrospective chart review on patients treated for laryngeal carcinoma with radiation therapy at the CHUM between 2002 and 2007. A head and neck radiologist revised each patient’s pretreatment CT‐scan to determine the presence of laryngeal cartilage sclerosis. This variable was correlated with locoregional control, laryngectomy, and survival rates. Results Of the 111 patients, 76% were male and 24% female. Their mean age was 61 years. Forty‐eight had supraglottic tumors and 63 had glottic tumors. Seven percent had thyroid cartilage sclerosis, 5% cricoid cartilage sclerosis, 55% arytenoid cartilage sclerosis, and 16% arytenoid cartilage sclerosis with adjacent tumor. There was no significant correlation demonstrated between cartilage sclerosis and locoregional control rate, laryngectomy rate and global and disease‐free survival. Conclusion Cartilage sclerosis on CT‐scan cannot be identified as a powerful predictor of treatment failure for patients with laryngeal carcinoma treated with radiation, which confirms our therapeutic attitude.