Introduction. In Poland, head and neck cancer accounts for some 6% of all cancer cases. The most common cancer in this group is cancer of the larynx. The aim of this study was the estimation of treatment effectiveness of patients treated for laryngeal cancer in the Hospital of the Ministry of Interior with Warmia and Mazury Oncology Center in Olsztyn between 2003 and 2006 (the initial 4 years of the Centre’s activity).

Material and methods. The analysis included all patients (220) treated with radiation for laryngeal cancer between 2003 and 2006 (I–IV clinical stages, treated with radical and palliative radiotherapy). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival. Differences in survival of subgroups were evaluated using the log-rank test: but the results have limited value due to retrospective rather than prospective analysis.

Results. Overall 2-year and 5-year survival (OS) of all 220 patients was 57% and 43% (median 3 years and 2 months). 2-year and 5-year OS of patients treated with radical intent was 65% and 48% (median of almost 5 years). 2-year and 5-year OS of patients treated with radiotherapy alone and postoperative radiotherapy were respectively 74% and 53%, 63% and 50%. 2-year and 5-year OS of patients in I–II and III–IV clinical stages treated with radiotherapy alone was respectively: 79% vs 45% and 59% vs 18%. (p = 0.004). 2-year and 5-year OS of patients in I–II and III–IV clinical stages treated with postoperative radiotherapy was respectively: 87.5% vs 60% and 87.5% vs 46%. 5-year OS of patients with N0 treated with radiotherapy alone was 57%. None of patients with N1-3 has survived 5 years. 2-year and 5-year OS of patients with N(-) and N(+) treated with postoperative radiotherapy was respectively: 75% vs 50% and 59% vs 40% (p = 0.22). There were no statistically significant differences between the OS of patients treated with standard and hyperfractionated irradiation. Survival of patients treated with radiation for postoperative late relapse was better than the OS of patients treated for postoperative early relapse.

Conclusions: Overall survival of patients with less advanced disease and patients with N(-) was significantly longer than the OS of patients with advanced laryngeal cancer.