Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Causes of death of patients with laryngeal cancer

  • Review Article
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Despite remarkable advances in the care of patients with laryngeal cancer over the past several decades, including a growing awareness of therapeutic complications and attention to quality of life, little is known about the causes of mortality in this population. In addition to the laryngeal malignancy itself, acute and late or chronic treatment-associated causes, second primary cancers, intercurrent disease and psychosocial factors are all responsible for patient morbidity and mortality. We examine the current literature related to the causes of death in patients with laryngeal cancer, in the hope of guiding future interventions to improve the longevity and quality of life of individuals with this cancer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. www.cancerresearchuk.org

  2. Siegel R, Naishadham D, Jemal A (2013) Cancer statistics. CA Cancer J Clin 63:11–30

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. EUCAN (2012) Available at: http://eu-cancer.iarc.fr/

  4. Ferlay J, Shin HR, Bray F, Forman D, Mathers C, Parkin DM (2010) GLOBOCAN 2008 v2.0. Cancer incidence and mortality worldwide: IARC CancerBase No. 10. IARC Press, Lyon

  5. Hinerman RW, Mendenhall WM, Amdur RJ, Stringer SP, Villaret DB, Robbins KT (2002) Carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx: treatment results with radiotherapy alone or with planned neck dissection. Head Neck 24:456–467

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Nutting CM, Robinson M, Birchall M (2008) Survival from laryngeal cancer in England and Wales up to 2001. Br J Cancer 99(Suppl1):S38–S39

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Hartl DM, Ferlito A, Brasnu DF et al (2011) Evidence-based review of treatment options for patients with glottic cancer. Head Neck 33:1638–1648

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Forastiere AA, Zhang Q, Weber RS et al (2013) Long-term results of RTOG 91-11: a comparison of three nonsurgical treatment strategies to preserve the larynx in patients with locally advanced larynx cancer. J Clin Oncol 31:845–852

    Google Scholar 

  9. Estève J, Benhamou E, Raymond L (1994) Statistical methods in cancer research, vol IV. Descriptive epidemiology. IARC Sci Publ 128:1–302

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Cancer survival in Belgium (2012) Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels

  11. Paleri V, Narayan R, Wight RG (2004) Descriptive study of the type and severity of decompensation caused by comorbidity in a population of patients with laryngeal squamous cancer. J Laryngol Otol 118:517–521

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Castro MA, Dedivitis RA, Ribeiro KC (2007) Comorbidity measurement in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 69:146–152

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Rennemo E, Zätterström U, Boysen M (2008) Impact of second primary tumors on survival in head and neck cancer: an analysis of 2,063 cases. Laryngoscope 118:1350–1356

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Doll R, Peto R, Boreham J, Sutherland I (2004) Mortality in relation to smoking: 50 years’ observations on male British doctors. BMJ 328:1519

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Matos JP, Castro Silva J, Monteiro E (2012) Causas de morte nos doentes com neoplasia da laringe nos estádios I e II. Acta Med Port 25:317–322

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Ellis L, Rachet B, Birchall M, Coleman MP (2012) Trends and inequalities in laryngeal cancer survival in men and women: England and Wales 1991–2006. Oral Oncol 48:284–289

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Laccourreye O, Garcia D, Maldent JB, Werner A (2011) Evolution of laryngectomy based on a comparison of two cohorts a century apart: an illustration of the progress, difficulties and conflicts encountered in medicine. Bull Acad Natl Med 195:741–753 [in French]

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Coleman MP, Rachet B, Woods LM et al (2004) Trends and socioeconomic inequalities in cancer survival in England and Wales up to 2001. Br J Cancer 90:1367–1373

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Oxford Cancer Intelligence Unit (OCIU) (2010) Profile of head and neck cancers in England: incidence, mortality and survival. National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN)

  20. Hoffman HT, Porter K, Karnell LH et al (2006) Laryngeal cancer in the United States: changes in demographics, patterns of care, and survival. Laryngoscope 116(Suppl 111):1–13

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Olsen KD (2010) Reexamining the treatment of advanced laryngeal cancer. Head Neck 32:1–7

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. McNeil BJ, Weichselbaum R, Pauker SG (1981) Speech and survival: tradeoffs between quality and quantity of life in laryngeal cancer. N Engl J Med 305:982–987

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Forastiere AA, Goepfert H, Maor M et al (2003) Concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for organ preservation in advanced laryngeal cancer. N Engl J Med 349:2091–2098

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Chen AY, Halpern M (2007) Factors predictive of survival in advanced laryngeal cancer. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 133:1270–1276

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Chen AY, Pavluck A, Halpern M, Ward E (2009) Impact of treating facilities’ volume on survival for early-stage laryngeal cancer. Head Neck 31:1137–1143

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Benasso M, Lionetto R, Vorvo R et al (2003) Impact of treating institution on the survival of patients with head and neck cancer treated with concomitant alternating chemotherapy and radiation. Eur J Cancer 39:1895–1898

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Howlader N, Noone AM, Krapcho M et al (2012) SEER cancer statistics review, 1975–2009 (Vintage 2009 Populations), National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2009_pops09/

  28. Strojan P, Haigentz M Jr, Bradford CR et al (2013) Chemoradiotherapy vs. total laryngectomy for primary treatment of advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Oral Oncol 49:283–286 (Editorial)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Chera BS, Amdur RJ, Morris CG, Kirwan JM, Mendenhall WM (2010) T1N0 to T2N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx treated with definitive radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 78:461–466

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Hinerman RW, Mendenhall WM, Morris CG, Amdur RJ, Werning JW, Villaret DB (2007) T3 and T4 true vocal cord squamous carcinomas treated with external beam irradiation: a single institution’s 35-year experience. Am J Clin Oncol 30:181–185

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Genden EM, Ferlito A, Rinaldo A et al (2008) Recent changes in the treatment of patients with advanced laryngeal cancer. Head Neck 30:103–110

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. The Department of Veterans Affairs Laryngeal Cancer Study Group (1991) Induction chemotherapy plus radiation compared with surgery plus radiation in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer. N Engl J Med 324:1685–1690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Ferlito A, Takes RP, Silver CE et al (2013) The changing role of surgery in the current era of head and neck oncology. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Jan 31. [Epub ahead of print]

  34. Goodwin WJ Jr (2000) Salvage surgery for patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract: when do the ends justify the means? Laryngoscope 110(Suppl 93):1–18

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Ferlito A, Shaha AR, Silver CE, Rinaldo A, Mondin V (2001) Incidence and sites of distant metastases from head and neck cancer. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 63:202–207

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Takes RP, Rinaldo A, Silver CE et al (2012) Distant metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Part I. Basic aspects. Oral Oncol 48:775–779

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. de Bree R, Haigentz M Jr, Silver CE et al (2012) Distant metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Part II. Diagnosis. Oral Oncol 48:780–786

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Haigentz M Jr, Hartl DM, Silver CE et al (2012) Distant metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Part III. Treatment. Oral Oncol 48:787–793

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Coca-Pelaz A, Rodrigo JP, Suárez C (2012) Clinicopathologic analysis and predictive factors for distant metastases in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Head Neck 34:771–775

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Spector JG, Sessions DG, Haughey BH et al (2001) Delayed regional metastases, distant metastases, and second primary malignancies in squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx and hypopharynx. Laryngoscope 111:1079–1087

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. León X, Quer M, Orús C, del Prado Venegas M, López M (2000) Distant metastases in head and neck cancer patients who achieved loco-regional control. Head Neck 22:680–686

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Nishijima W, Takooda S, Tokita N, Takayama S, Sakura M (1993) Analyses of distant metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and lesions above the clavicle at autopsy. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 119:65–68

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Zbären P, Lehmann W (1987) Frequency and sites of distant metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. An analysis of 101 cases at autopsy. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 113:762–764

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Kotwall C, Sako K, Razack MS, Rao U, Bakamjian V, Shedd DP (1987) Metastatic patterns in squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. Am J Surg 154:439–442

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Papac RJ (1984) Distant metastases from head and neck cancer. Cancer 53:342–345

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Jennings CR, Bradley PJ (2002) Are autopsies useful? Do premorbid findings predict postmortem results in head and neck cancer patients? Ann R Coll Surg Engl 84:133–136

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Alvi A, Johnson JT (1997) Development of distant metastasis after treatment of advanced-stage head and neck cancer. Head Neck 19:500–505

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Leibel SA, Scott CB, Mohiuddin M et al (1991) The effect of local-regional control on distant metastatic dissemination in carcinoma of the head and neck: results of an analysis from the RTOG head and neck database. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 21:549–556

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Suárez C, Llorente JL, Nuñez F, Diaz C, Gomez J (1993) Neck dissection with or without postoperative radiotherapy in supraglottic carcinomas. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 109:3–9

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Calhoun KH, Fulmer P, Weiss R, Hokanson JA (1994) Distant metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Laryngoscope 104:1199–1205

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Li X, Di B, Shang Y, Zhou Y, Cheng J, He Z (2009) Clinicopathologic risk factors for distant metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Eur J Surg Oncol 35:1348–1353

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Barroso Ribeiro R, Ribeiro Breda E, Fernandes Monteiro E (2012) Prognostic significance of nodal metastasis in advanced tumors of the larynx and hypopharynx. Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp 63:292–298

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Spector ME, Chinn SB, Rosko AJ et al (2012) Diagnostic modalities for distant metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: are we changing life expectancy? Laryngoscope 122:1507–1511

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Slaughter DP, Soutwick HW, Smejkal W (1953) Field cancerization in oral stratified squamous epithelium; clinical implications of multicentric origin. Cancer 6:963–968

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Braakhuis BJ, Tabor MP, Kummer JA, Leemans CR, Brakenhoff RH (2003) A genetic explanation of Slaughter’s concept of field cancerization: evidence and clinical implications. Cancer Res 63:1727–1730

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Chu PY, Chang SY, Huang JL, Tai SK (2010) Different patterns of second primary malignancy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of larynx and hypopharynx. Am J Otolaryngol 31:168–174

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Farhadieh RD, Rees CG, Yang JL, Salardini A, Russell P, Smee R (2009) Radiotherapy in larynx squamous cell carcinoma is not associated with an increased diagnosis of second primary tumours. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 21:315–319

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Rennemo E, Zätterström U, Evensen J, Boysen M (2009) Reduced risk of head and neck second primary tumors after radiotherapy. Radiother Oncol 93:559–562

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Rusthoven K, Chen C, Raben D, Kavanagh B (2008) Use of external beam radiotherapy is associated with reduced incidence of second primary head and neck cancer: a SEER database analysis. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 71:192–198

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Narayana A, Vaughan AT, Fisher SG, Reddy SP (1998) Second primary tumors in laryngeal cancer: results of long-term follow-up. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 42:557–562

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Erkal HS, Mendenhall WM, Amdur RJ, Villaret DB, Stringer SP (2001) Synchronous and metachronous squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck mucosal sites. J Clin Oncol 19:1358–1362

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Farhadieh RD, Salardini A, Yang JL, Russell P, Smee R (2010) Diagnosis of second head and neck tumors in primary laryngeal SCC is an indicator of overall survival and not associated with poorer overall survival: a single centre study in 987 patients. J Surg Oncol 101:72–77

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Rennemo E, Zätterström U, Boysen M (2011) Synchronous second primary tumors in 2,016 head and neck cancer patients: role of symptom-directed panendoscopy. Laryngoscope 121:304–309

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. León X, Quer M, Diez S, Orús C, López-Pousa A, Burgués J (1999) Second neoplasm in patients with head and neck cancer. Head Neck 21:204–210

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Gourin CG, Frick KD (2012) National trends in laryngeal cancer surgery and the effect of surgeon and hospital volume on short-term outcomes and cost of care. Laryngoscope 122:88–94

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Adobamen PR, Okata NU (2012) Peri-operative deaths associated with ear, nose, throat, head and neck surgeries: a ten-year prospective survey. Nig Q J Hosp Med 22:121–124

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Hoff CM, Grau C, Overgaard J (2012) Effect of smoking on oxygen delivery and outcome in patients treated with radiotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma–a prospective study. Radiother Oncol 103:38–44

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Gencer B, Collet TH, Virgini V, Auer R, Rodondi N (2013) Subclinical thyroid dysfunction and cardiovascular outcomes among prospective cohort studies. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets Jan 15. [Epub ahead of print]

  69. Yao X, Panichpisal K, Kurtzman N, Nugent K (2007) Cisplatin nephrotoxicity: a review. Am J Med Sci 334:115–124

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Stell PM, Morton RP, Singh SD (1983) Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: the untreated patient. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 8:7–13

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Jones AS (1995) The untreated patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Am J Clin Oncol 18:363–368

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Kowalski LP, Carvalho AL (2000) Natural history of untreated head and neck cancer. Eur J Cancer 36:1032–1037

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Jeannon J-P, Ofu E, Balfour A, Bowman J, Simo R (2011) The natural history of untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: how we do it? Clin Otolaryngol 36:384–388

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Hem E, Loge JH, Haldorsen T, Ekeberg Ø (2004) Suicide risk in cancer patients from 1960 to 1999. J Clin Oncol 22:4209–4216

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Yousaf U, Christensen ML, Engholm G, Storm HH (2005) Suicides among Danish cancer patients 1971–1999. Br J Cancer 92:995–1000

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Misono S, Weiss NS, Fann JR, Redman M, Yueh B (2008) Incidence of suicide in persons with cancer. J Clin Oncol 26:4731–4738

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alfio Ferlito.

Additional information

This paper was written by members and invitees of the International Head and Neck Scientific Group (www.IHNSG.com).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ferlito, A., Haigentz, M., Bradley, P.J. et al. Causes of death of patients with laryngeal cancer. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 271, 425–434 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-013-2478-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-013-2478-0

Keywords

Navigation