T1 glottic laryngeal cancer: the role of routine follow-up visits in detecting local recurrence

Purpose We assessed the treatment outcome and the benefits of routine follow-up visits in T1 glottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Methods Medical records of patients diagnosed with stage T1 glottic LSCC (N = 303) in five Finnish university hospitals between 2003 and 2015 were reviewed. Moreover, data from the Finnish Cancer Registry and the Population Register Center were collected. Results Of all 38 recurrences, 26 (68%) were detected during a routine follow-up visit, and over half (21 of 38, 55%) presented without new symptoms. Primary treatment method (surgery vs. radiotherapy) was not connected with 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) or laryngeal preservation rate. Conclusion The majority of recurrences were detected on a routine follow-up visit, and local recurrences often presented without new symptoms. Routine post-treatment follow-up of T1 glottic LSCC seems beneficial.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the treatment outcome and benefits of routine follow-up visits for patients with T1 glottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. It was found that the majority of recurrences were detected during routine follow-up visits, with many local recurrences presenting without new symptoms. Therefore, routine post-treatment follow-up for T1 glottic LSCC appears to be beneficial.