RISK-FACTORS INVOLVED IN STOMAL RECURRENCE FOLLOWING LARYNGECTOMY

Stomal recurrence after surgery for laryngeal tumours is an extremely serious complication, with a dismal prognosis despite aggressive surgi cal therapy or high-dose irradiation. Data from 209 patients who under went total laryngectomy for cancers of the larynx and hypopharynx were retrieved from the registry of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the Hospital 'Virgen de las Nieves' of Granada. Stomal recurrence d eveloped in 8.1 per cent of them (17 cases). We analysed several param eters from each case: first, those parameters significantly associated with stomal recurrence were detected, and secondly, a logistic regres sion analysis was done. Three factors were found independently related to stomal recurrence: T-staging, site of the primary tumour and prior tracheostomy. Together with a review of the literature, we discuss ou r findings and a proposal for management of the high risk patient.