Treatment of T3 laryngeal cancer in the Netherlands: a national survey

Background: Treatment strategies for T3 laryngeal carcinoma include radiotherapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy (CT) and sometimes surgery. We conducted a national survey to determine how T3 laryngeal carcinoma is currently being managed in the Netherlands. Methods: A questionnaire on general treatment policy, also inquiring details on RT and CT, was sent to all 13 radiotherapy departments accredited for treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) in the Netherlands. Results: Twelve centers completed the questionnaire. All centers reported using RT with or without CT. Upfront laryngectomy is rarely performed. At 9/12 centers, CT is added to RT in cases with large tumors in T3N0 disease. Three centers use a volume criterion (3-6 cc); 6 centers don't specify "large" with such criteria. CT consists of cisplatin 3-weekly (7 centers) or weekly (2 centers), unless contra-indicated or age; 6 centers use an age limit of 70 years. RT is given concomitantly with CT 5x/week except at the 2 centers where cisplatin weekly is combined with 6 fractions/week. In case of RT only, treatment is accelerated. Lymph node levels II-IV are treated electively. In T3N+ disease, 11/12 centers treat non-bulky T3N1 with RT only. Volume criteria for combined CT-RT are the same as above. Two centers perform an upfront neck dissection in case of (resectable) N3 disease; 10 centers treat T3N2-3 cancer with primary CT-RT, 2 centers don't use the N-stage criterion. Total RT dose is 68-70 Gy, the elective dose varies between 46 and 57.75 Gy. Eight centers use a simultaneous integrated boost technique. Conclusions: Treatment of T3 laryngeal cancer in the Netherlands is generally comparable, with CT-RT for voluminous T3N0 and most T3N+ tumors, but there are some differences between the centers in the use of chemotherapy and the dose-fractionation schemes. Therefore, the aim of the National Platform RT HNC is further standardization of RT dose, fractionation and delivery techniques.