The relationship between tumor thickness and clinical and histopathologic parameters in cancer of the larynx

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the relationship of tumor thickness to clinical and histopathologic parameters in laryngeal cancer. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a retrospective review of laryngectomy specimens of 111 surgically treated T1-3 laryngeal cancer patients for tumor thickness and various histopathologic parameters. RESULTS: Tumor thickness was significantly related to T, N, and clinical stage; pathologic cervical lymph node metastasis; cartilage invasion; microscopic appearance; mode of invasion to surrounding tissues; perineural invasion; and lymphocytic inflitration (P < 0.05). Tumor thickness had significant correlation with T, N, and clinical stage; cervical lymph node metastasis; cartilage invasion; mode of invasion to surrounding tissues; perineural invasion; and lymphocytic infiltration (P < 0.05). Multifactorial statistical analysis showed that cartilage invasion and lymphocytic infiltration significantly determined tumor thickness independently (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Tumor thickness is well correlated to most of the reliable clinical and histopathologic parameters, and it is an objective and easy-to-obtain measure. SIGNIFICANCE: Tumor thickness can be used as a reliable histopathological factor and should be measured in every laryngectomy specimen.