Vocal Cord Only Hypofractionated Radiotherapy vs Whole Laryngeal Radiotherapy for T1aN0 Glottic Cancer

Most laryngeal cancers present in early stage and more than two thirds of it occur in the glottic region(T1-T2). Early glottic carcinoma is historically treated with conventional radiotherapy using large box fields (from lower border of hyoid to lower border of cricoid), using wedged parallel opposed photon beams. In spite of good local control rate of more than 90% for T1a glottic cases, the tumor-free contralateral vocal cord, arytenoids, thyroid cartilage, and all muscles responsible for opening and closing the vocal cords, the swallowing muscles, carotid arteries and thyroid gland are exposed to high radiation doses (fully or partially) which could lead to an increased probability of complications that negatively influence the quality of life of these patients. Typical complications have involved voice/ speech impairment, diet problems (swallowing, trismus), arytenoids edema, an increased risk of strokes, and reduced treatment options for previously irradiated patients. Many studies showed that increasing fraction size and shortening the overall treatment time (hypofractionated radiotherapy) could result in better local control of T1 glottic cancer The use of 63Gy/28 Fractions(Fx) showed superior local control compared with conventional use of 66Gy/33Fx with shorter overall treatment time. Based on this study this dose is the standard in our institute. In contrast to the traditional radiotherapy principle to treat the whole larynx, surgical laser excision of T1a glottic cancer involves removal of gross tumor with minimal, often sub-millimeter, excisional margins with good oncological outcome and good quality of voice. Similar to this surgical concept and with modern radiotherapy IMRT/VMAT technique, the approach of single vocal cord irradiation (SVCI) was introduced. A study of 30 patients with T1a glottis cancer treated by image guided vocal cord radiotherapy was published in 2015 and it showed 100% local control at 2 years and with no grade 3 toxicities reported and better quality of voice when compared to historical cohorts Dosimetric analysis showed that IMRT resulted in markedly reducing the dose to contralateral cord, arytenoids, thyroid cartilage, inferior constrictor muscle and carotid arteries. To date no prospective phase 3 trial was done to compare treatment outcome and toxicity profile of vocal cord only hypofractionated radiotherapy vs traditional whole laryngeal radiotherapy.