Organ preservation therapy for advanced-stage laryngeal carcinoma

The standard treatment for patients with advanced laryngeal cancer remains total laryngectomy. Radiotherapy as a primary treatment modality is a reasonable alternative. Surgical salvage by total laryngectomy is an important part of the treatment plan when irradiation is used primarily to treat advanced laryngeal cancer. The value of induction and concomitant chemotherapy in laryngeal preservation protocols remains controversial. The currently accepted role for use of chemotherapy outside of research protocols is for palliation of incurable laryngeal cancers. The nonsurgical treatment of patients with advanced laryngeal cancers requires the coordinated efforts of a team with close patient follow-up in order that survival not be compromised.