Complications and toxicity of re-irradiation following total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer

ConclusionPatients undergoing re-irradiation for recurrent laryngeal cancer have a poor prognosis with high risk of progression or recurrence. Re-irradiation may offer survival benefit at the expense of significant toxicities. The incidence of severe toxicity is high enough to warrant pretreatment counseling. Carotid blowout was seen in 15% of patients unrelated to cancer progression. Caution should be exercised in re-irradiated patients before instrumentation of the aerodigestive tract.
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research