Distant metastases in patients with advance laryngeal carcinoma

Patients with advanced stage cancer larynx have a higher risk of development of distant metastases which means a bad prognosis. In our study we try to identify risk factors with the idea of involve to all of these patients in more aggressive systemic therapy protocols. Data of 57 patients surgically treated, with squamous pharyngolaryngeal carcinoma, stage III and IV, are evaluated. Advanced T stage or more extensive neck disease more often caused distant metastases (p < 0.05), and also the histological evidence of tumor invasion in three or more cervical nodes (p = 0.02), and poorly differentiated tumors (p < 0.05). Tumor site, surface area in cm, presence of ulceration, and loco-regional uncontrol were not associated with distant metastases.