Prognostic significance of histopathological parameters in cancer of the larynx

In this study we investigated the prognostic significance of differentiatio n, the mode of tumor invasion to surrounding tissues, the microscopic appea rance of tumor, peritumoral lymphocytic infiltration and cartilage involvem ent according to disease-free survival, and the recurrence and presence of cervical lymph node metastasis in cancer of the larynx. Only the mode of tu mor invasion to surrounding tissues was significantly related to survival ( P < 0.05). The patients with "well-defined margin" tumors survive significa ntly longer than those with "groups of cells, no distinct margin." Patients with supraglottic tumors and a mode of invasion ol:her than "well-defined margin" have a significantly higher risk of recurrence (P < 0.05) and there fore require adjuvant therapy. Patients with poorly differentiated, cartila ge invading, ulcerative supraglottic tumors, and patients with glottic tumo rs having diffusely infiltrating margins, certainly need elective neck diss ection (P < 0.05). According to the multivariant analysis, none of the fact ors significantly affect disease-free survival independently (P > 0.15). Ac cording to multiple logistic regression and cox regression analysis, in dec reasing order of significance, the mode of invasion, microscopic tumor appe arance and:lymphocytic infiltration significantly affect the recurrence and time between surgery and the development of recurrence independently (P < 0.15).