Does waiting time affect the outcome of larynx cancer treated by radiotherapy?

doi:10.1016/S0167-8140(97)00093-5

Radiotherapy and Oncology

Volume 44, Issue 2, August 1997, Pages 137-141

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-8140(97)00093-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

Aim: To determine the impact of waiting for radiotherapy on local control in early larynx cancer treated by radiotherapy alone.

Methods: Records of patients with T1 and T2, N0–2 larynx cancer were examined at three radiotherapy centres. Waiting time was defined in three ways, (1) time from biopsy to radiotherapy, (2) time from presentation to radiation department to start of radiotherapy and (3) the minimum of (1) and (2). Time to relapse was the major end point.

Results: There were 581 patients with a median follow-up of 6.8 years. Stage distribution was as follows: T1, 370; T2a, 106; T2b, 94; T2 unspecified, 11; N0, 563; N+, 18. Median times from biopsy, presentation and minimum time to treatment were 24, 16 and 15 days, respectively. Ninety percent of minimum waiting times were ≤31 days. The median dose was 61 Gy in a median of 30 fractions over a median 46 days. Local recurrence occurred in 126 patients. The actuarial recurrence free rate at 5 years was 77% (SE 2%). In a multivariate analysis the significant predictors of relapse were higher T stage, longer treatment duration and increasing field area. Waiting time was not significantly associated with local relapse.

Conclusion: This study did not show longer waiting time to be a significant predictor of relapse in early larynx cancer. Other end-points which are relevant, such as quality of life, have not been examined. Longer treatment times were significantly associated with relapse.

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Citation Excerpt :
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Original paperDoes waiting time affect the outcome of larynx cancer treated by radiotherapy?

Abstract

Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys.

Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys.

Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys.

Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys.

Int. J. Radiat. Biol. Phys.

Am. J. Surg.

Covariance analysis of censored survival data

Biometrics

Regression models and life tables

J. R. Stat. Soc. B

How do we bring an acceptable level of radiotherapy services to a dispersed population?

Aust. Radiol.

Original paper
Does waiting time affect the outcome of larynx cancer treated by radiotherapy?