[Evaluation of depth of invasion and tumor diameter in relation to tumor localization in laryngeal cancer].

Objectives: We investigated the relationship between tumor localization and depth of tumor invasion and tumor diameter.

Patients And Methods: Neck dissection specimens of 70 patients (mean age 61+/-10 years, range 38 to 77 years) who underwent laryngectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx were histopathologically re-examined with regard to the number and localization of metastatic lymph nodes, depth of tumor invasion, and tumor diameter. Three tumor groups (supraglottic, glottic, and transglottic) were compared with respect to depth of tumor invasion, tumor diameter, metastatic lymph nodes, and T-stage.

Results: The overall mean depth of tumor invasion was 7.06 mm, being 7.76 mm, 7.05 mm, and 4.06 mm in supraglottic, transglottic, and glottic tumors, respectively. Compared to glottic tumors, depth of tumor invasion and tumor diameter were significantly higher in supraglottic and transglottic tumors (p<0.05). Depth of invasion showed a significant correlation with tumor diameter (p<0.05), whereas there was no correlation between depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis (p>0.05). In supraglottic tumors, depth of invasion significantly increased in parallel with T-stage (p<0.05). In transglottic and glottic tumors, however, there was no correlation between T-stage and depth of invasion (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Our data show that depth of tumor invasion is related with tumor location and diameter in laryngeal cancers.