Clinical Staging in Cancer of the Larynx: A Report on 788 Cases Using the American Joint Committee's Method of Stage Classification

Abstract

A field trial was carried out based on 788 males with cancer of the larynx. Sufficient information was collected to permit the cases to be classified into stages I through IV according to the scheme proposed by the American Joint CommiHee on Staging. From survival experience, we found that the scheme did separate the patients according to prognosis. However, among stage II cases, those with the most extensive local involvement (T₄) experienced a 5-year survival rate of only 23 percent. This rate was similar to that for cases assigned to stage III. We therefore feel that the T₄ cases may be more appropriately staged Ill instead of II. For tumors limited to the gloHic region, survival experience indicated that a distinction should be made with respect to motility of the vocal cords. Cases with normal motility should be included in stage I, while cases with fixation should be included in stage II.