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Background: The involvement of the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle by glottic cancer may be related to an impaired vocal cord mobility, which is classified as cT2 disease. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the prognostic significance of TA muscle involvement in early glottic cancer treated with transoral laser microsurgery (TLM)., Methods: A review was conducted on a cohort of 209 patients consecutively treated with TLM for early glottic carcinoma. Univariate analysis was used to examine the prognostic meaning of clinical and pathological parameters., Results: The statistical analysis showed that TA muscle infiltration correlated significantly with a worse prognosis in terms of recurrence rate and disease-free survival, and this was confirmed even in the subcohort with pT1a glottic cancer., Conclusions: Our preliminary findings suggest that it could be considered as a criterion for upstaging a glottic cancer from pT1 to pT2., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Given the relevance of any tumor invasion of the arytenoid cartilage or crico-arytenoid unit to the planning open partial horizontal laryngectomy (OPHL) for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), it is important to have a reliable radiological test to assess impairments of these structures., Methods: We retrospectively compared the endoscopic, radiological, and pathological findings in patients with glottic LSCC who underwent OPHL., Results: The endoscopic finding of a reduced (impaired or absent) vocal cord motility proved more sensitive, with better positive and negative predictive values, but less specific than the radiological finding of complete arytenoid sclerosis in detecting histologically assessable infiltration of the arytenoid cartilage., Conclusions: Endoscopy retains a key role in the preoperative workup for glottic LSCC. CT evidence of complete sclerosis of the arytenoid cartilage is related to a dangerous contiguity of the tumor to the cartilage., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of preepiglottic space (PES) dissection in the endoscopic supraglottic laryngectomy (ESL)., Study Design: A retrospective cohort study., Methods: We retrospectively compared 15 patients who underwent ESL with 15 patients matched for clinical stage who underwent open partial horizontal laryngectomy (OPHL). The functional outcomes were assessed in terms of hospital stay; need for nasal feeding tube (NFT) and tracheostomy, as well as duration of their use; postoperative complications; aspiration pneumonia rates; voice quality; and dysphagia., Results: Among the ESL cases, combined dissection of the epiglottis and PES (type III) had a negative impact on functional outcomes. ESL patients experienced shorter hospital stays, as well as shorter use of NFT and tracheostomy, than patients who had OPHL., Conclusion: Combined dissection of the epiglottis and PES (ESL type III) negatively affected functional outcome in patients undergoing ESL, a procedure generally related to significantly better functional outcomes than OPHL type I., Level of Evidence: 4. Laryngoscope, 128:1371-1378, 2018., (© 2017 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: The purpose of this study was to present our findings on the involvement of paratracheal lymph nodes in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with subglottis extension, which is controversial., Methods: We assessed 196 patients with laryngeal SCC involving the subglottis, treated with open laryngeal surgery with or without paratracheal neck dissection (PTND). The relationship of the paratracheal lymph node metastatic pattern with laterocervical nodal status and tumor location within different subglottic subsites was analyzed. The influence of PTND on regional disease control was assessed., Results: Paratracheal lymph nodes were affected in 12.2% of cases. An increased frequency (P = .064) of paratracheal metastasis was noticed in case of anterior subglottis extension with respect to other subsites. A correlation (P < .001) between paratracheal lymph node and laterocervical node involvement was found among subjects with posterior subglottic extension., Conclusions: Prophylactic PTND is indicated in laryngeal SCC with anterior subglottic extension and/or posterior subglottis involvement with clinically apparent laterocervical node metastases., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Purpose: The aim of the present paper was to investigate the oncological safety of two-stage bilateral cordectomy for the treatment of cT1b glottic SCC, and to compare its oncological outcome and synechia development rate with those of single-stage procedures., Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed at the Otolaryngology Unit of Vittorio Veneto Laryngeal Cancer Center (Italy). The prognostic significance of clinical, pathological and surgical factors was also investigated, in terms of recurrence rate and disease-free survival, in a univariate statistical setting., Results: Our results indicate that patients treated with primary two-stage bilateral cordectomy achieved local control in 96% of cases, with 95% disease-specific and 88% overall survival rates, and a 95% organ preservation rate, with anterior synechiae developing in 1 case. Involvement of the deep surgical margins correlated with a worse prognosis. Patients developed anterior synechiae less frequently after two-stage bilateral cordectomy, and experienced no higher recurrence rate or shorter disease-free survival than patients treated with a single-stage procedure., Conclusions: Two-stage bilateral cordectomy is a safe and effective procedure. In selected patients it could be considered the primary approach for the treatment of early glottic cT1b carcinomas., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives/hypothesis: To retrospectively analyze our experience of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for treating postoperative laryngeal obstruction (POLO) after supracricoid and supratracheal laryngectomy (open partial horizontal laryngectomy [OPHL]) types 2 and 3, and to investigate potential relationships between patients' clinical features and their functional outcomes., Study Design: A retrospective cohort study., Methods: The prognostic influence of clinical and surgical parameters on functional outcomes was investigated in a univariate statistical setting in terms of decannulation rate (DR), time to tracheostomy closure (TTC), and number of laser procedures required (NLP)., Results: OPHL type 2 was associated with a better functional outcome than OPHL type 3 in terms of DR, TTC, and NLP (P = .03, P = .02, and P = .02, respectively). Annular and semicircumferential stenoses developed more frequently after OPHL type 3, and were particularly difficult to manage with TLM. Fixation of the residual arytenoid was a negative prognostic factor in terms of functional outcome in terms of DR, TTC, and NLP (P = .0002, P = .08, and P = .08, respectively)., Conclusions: There is no standardized laser treatment for POLO; it must be tailored to individual patients. Identifying prognostic factors influencing functional outcome could help surgeons to earmark patients less likely to benefit from TLM for the treatment of POLO, and enable an adequate preoperative counseling, given the high probability of repeat postoperative TLM procedures., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 2016 127:359-365, 2017., (© 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: Treatment for local glottic cancer recurrences after primary transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) has not been standardized., Methods: In 33 consecutive cases of salvage TLM after laser surgery for early glottic carcinoma failed, we retrospectively considered the potential clinicopathological prognostic factors in univariate statistical setting., Results: Patient age <65 years and pathological involvement of the deep margins were associated with a higher second recurrence rate and shorter disease-free survival., Conclusion: The age of the patient and the pathological status of surgical margins after salvage TLM could be useful for planning a closer endoscopic/radiological follow-up in selected patients at high risk of recurrence. Other appropriately designed studies are needed to see if an open surgical approach should be considered for younger patients (<65 years old) with recurrent glottic carcinoma after primary TLM. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1043-1049, 2016., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Cancer of the larynx in the intermediate/advanced stage still presents a major challenge in terms of controlling the disease and preserving the organ. Among therapeutic options, open partial horizontal laryngectomy is proposed as a function-sparing surgical technique., Methods: We analyzed the clinical outcomes of 555 patients with laryngeal cancer staged pT3 to pT4a who underwent open partial horizontal laryngectomy., Results: Five-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional control, local control, laryngectomy-free survival, and laryngeal function preservation rates were 84.6%, 84.2%, 86.3%, 90.6%, 93.3%, and 91.2%, respectively. DFS, locoregional control, and laryngeal function preservation rates were significantly affected by pT4a staging (68.1%, 71.7%, and 78.0%, respectively), whereas pN+ influenced only DFS (≤72.6%) and locoregional control (≤79.6%)., Conclusions: Open partial horizontal laryngectomy with a modular approach can be considered effective in terms of prognostic and functional results in intermediate-stage and selected advanced-stage laryngeal cancers, even with subglottic extension. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E649-E657, 2016., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounts for 1.9% of cancers worldwide. Most of these are diagnosed in the early stages (T1-T2, and N0). For these, a larynx preserving/conserving option is preferable. Beyond transoral laser microsurgery (TLM), open partial horizontal laryngectomy is a function-sparing surgical technique used to treat laryngeal SCC., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcomes of 216 patients who underwent open partial horizontal laryngectomy for glottic cT2 laryngeal cancer., Results: Five-year overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DFS), locoregional control, local control, laryngeal function preservation, and laryngectomy-free survival rates were 93.1%, 98.0%, 97.1%, 97.5%, 97.8%, and 98.5%, respectively. Disease controls were significantly affected by previous treatment and type of surgery used., Conclusion: Although TLM for cT2 laryngeal cancer with unimpaired vocal cord mobility still represents a sound option, open partial horizontal laryngectomy offers higher local control and laryngeal preservation rates for selected patients with impaired mobility of vocal cords combined with involvement of the paraglottic space. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E333-E340, 2016., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Laryngeal cancer management should pursue function-sparing therapeutic options. Even though demolitive surgery provides better control of disease at intermediate to advanced stages when compared to chemoradiotherapy, it does not preserve laryngeal function. Supratracheal partial laryngectomy has been described as a function-sparing surgical technique for laryngeal cancer with subglottic extension., Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical outcomes of 115 patients who underwent supratracheal partial laryngectomy., Results: At 5 years, overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and locoregional control rates were 78.9%, 68.5%, and 69.6%, respectively; DFS and locoregional control prevalences were greatly affected by pT4a classification (49.0% and 51.4%, respectively); and laryngeal function preservation was maintained in 78.3% of patients despite being affected by pT4a classification (59.3%) and age ≥65 (64.6%)., Conclusion: For cases with glottic tumors and with subglottic extension, the choice of supratracheal partial laryngectomy versus chemoradiotherapy can be considered to be effective in terms of prognostic and functional results., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

We present herein the proposal of the European Laryngological Society working committee on nomenclature for a systematic classification of open partial horizontal laryngectomies (OPHL). This is based on the cranio-caudal extent of laryngeal structures resected, instead of a number of different and heterogeneous variables present in existing nomenclatures, usually referring to eponyms, types of pexy, or inferior limit of resection. According to the proposed classification system, we have defined three types of OPHLs: Type I (formerly defined horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy), Type II (previously called supracricoid laryngectomy), and Type III (also named supratracheal laryngectomy). Use of suffixes "a" and "b" in Type II and III OPHLs reflects sparing or not of the suprahyoid epiglottis. Various extensions to one arytenoid, base of tongue, piriform sinus, and crico-arytenoid unit are indicated by abbreviations (ARY, BOT, PIR, and CAU, respectively). Our proposal is not intended to give a comprehensive algorithm of application of different OPHLs to specific clinical situations, but to serve as the basis for obtaining a common language among the head and neck surgical community. We therefore intend to present this classification system as a simple and intuitive teaching instrument, and a tool to be able to compare surgical series with each other and with non-surgical data.

Background: There are limited data on the role of laser-assisted surgery for early glottic cancer in elderly patients., Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on a series of 130 consecutive cases of early glottic carcinoma occurring in elderly patients (>65 years old) treated with CO(2) laser surgery., Results: The overall and disease-specific survival rates were 87.7% and 99.2%, respectively. The rates of local disease control after primary laser surgery, ultimate local control with laser alone, and laryngeal preservation were 84.6%, 93.8%, and 96.9%, respectively. A shorter disease-free survival (DFS) was associated with the involvement of 1 or more specific laryngeal regions (arytenoids, ventricle, anterior commissure, vocal muscle, subglottis) (p = .01) and the status of the surgical margins (p = .002); on multivariate analysis, only the latter remained prognostically significant vis-à-vis the DFS (p = .002)., Conclusions: Even in elderly patients with early glottic carcinoma, endoscopic laser surgery is an effective treatment., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Long-term oncological and functional results from a retrospective study on 469 patients over a 10-year period of subtotal laryngectomies (SL), 399 supracricoid partial laryngectomies (SCL) and 70 supratracheal partial laryngectomies (STL) are presented. The mean follow-up time was 97 months (range 60–165 months). Acute complications, types and rates of late sequelae, functional results, 2-year post-operative scores of laryngeal function and quality of life are reported. The observed long-term results were: SCL, 5-year overall and disease-free survival: 95.6, and 90.9%, respectively; 2-year post-operative laryngeal function preservation: 95.7%; STL, 5-year overall and disease-free survival: 80 and 72.9%, respectively; 2-year post-operative laryngeal function preservation: 80%. The performance status scale for laryngeal function preservation showed very high 2-year scores, with no significant differences depending on the type and extent of surgery. The adopted type of function-sparing surgery provided overall and disease-free survival rates that were somewhat better than those reported in studies based on organ-sparing protocols with chemoradiotherapy. The rate of total laryngectomy of completion in this series was 4.4%. A new classification of the current horizontal partial laryngectomies is also proposed, namely “Horizontal Laryngectomy System” (HOLS), based on the extent of surgical removal of laryngeal structures.

Objective: Assess the impact of surgical margin CO2 laser photocoagulation (LPC) on disease local control in patients submitted to endoscopic surgery for early glottic cancer in comparison with subjects treated with laser cordectomy without borders LPC., Study Design: Historical cohort study., Setting: Regional referral cancer center., Subjects and Methods: A total 281 patients with early glottic cancer (T1a, T1b, T2) were treated with endoscopic laser cordectomy according to the European Laryngological Society Classification between 1999 and 2006. Among the patients, 123 (treated between 2003 and 2006) were submitted to postresection LPC of surgical margins (group 1), whereas 158 (operated between 1999 and 2002) underwent laser cordectomy without margin LPC (group 2). Median follow-up was 51 months (range, 36-101 months)., Results: Local recurrence was found in 43 of 281 (15.30%) subjects (18 with T1a, 13 with T1b, 12 with T2). A significant difference in recurrence rate was found among patients treated with margin LPC in comparison with group 2 (P = .022). In particular, a lower recurrence rate in LPC patients was noticed in case of close (≤ 1 mm), nondefinable, and positive margins with infiltration of the superficial border. No significant difference was noticed in the case of negative edges (>1 mm) or involvement of either deep margin or both superficial and deep edges., Conclusions: Surgical margin LPC increases disease local control in the case of close and superficial margin positivity. In such cases, no further treatment (surgical revision or radiotherapy) seems to be required in LPC patients. In case of deep border involvement, surgical revision or radiotherapy should be performed.

The aim of the present investigation was to analyze the oncological results of a series of early stage glottic carcinomas treated with CO(2) laser-assisted endoscopic surgery. We focused on prognosis factors with significant impact on local control and disease-free survival (DFS). This retrospective study was conducted on a series of 177 consecutive patients with pT1-T2 glottic carcinomas treated with CO(2) laser-assisted endoscopic surgery in the period 2000-2007. All considered patients had at least a 24-month follow-up period (mean follow-up 49.1 ± 23.0 months). The overall survival and the disease-specific survival rates were respectively 90.8 and 98.8%. The rates of local control with primary laser surgery, ultimate local control with laser alone, and laryngeal preservation were 86.3, 94.3, and 97.7%, respectively. Arytenoids (p = 0.006) and limited subglottic involvements (p = 0.0002) have a significant impact on DFS. Endoscopic laser surgery is the gold standard in the treatment of early glottic carcinoma because of high local control rates with laser alone, day surgery modality, very low morbility, good post-operative voice quality in most of the cases, and low costs.

Purpose of the Review: Although radiotherapy is a well codified treatment for laryngeal carcinomas, the management of local recurrence after failed radiotherapy remains controversial. Total laryngectomy is the classical salvage surgical approach. Recent evidence showed that selected laryngeal recurrences may be successfully treated with partial laryngectomies with comparable survival rates, acceptable morbidity, tracheostomy closure, effective swallowing, and satisfactory voice intelligibility., Recent Findings: Recurrent laryngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy failure requires a comprehensive clinical, radiological and pathological restaging. Strict selection criteria are mandatory for the identification of radiotherapy failure cases amenable to conservative laryngeal surgery. Although larger series confirmation is necessary, conservative salvage surgery seems definitely promising. Salvage endolaryngeal laser surgery after irradiation failure allows in selected cases a mean local control rate of 65%. Selectively, supracricoid laryngectomy can be a flexible alternative to salvage total laryngectomy being conservative of laryngeal functions (mean local control rate of 85%). Selected laryngeal recurrences can be correctly treated also with vertical or horizontal supraglottic laryngectomies. In partial laryngectomies, intraoperative frozen sections are mandatory: postoperatively permanent sections have to confirm all margins., Summary: When proper selection criteria for conservative salvage laryngeal surgery are used, laryngeal function can be preserved with oncological efficacy also after radiotherapy failure.

Purpose: The most appropriate treatment of laryngeal nonsquamous malignancies is a controversial subject, mainly because of the limited number of cases diagnosed. Surgery, which is an obligatory choice in nearly all cases, is sometimes indiscriminately demolitive despite the relatively low locoregional aggressiveness that characterizes certain histotypes and locations. Even in extremely aggressive tumors, where the prognosis is almost invariably unfavorable because of distant metastasis, the suitability of radical surgery should be carefully assessed, especially considering the patient's remaining life quality. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the postsurgical oncological results in a series of consecutive patients with laryngeal nonsquamous primary malignancy., Methods: We analyzed retrospectively 29 consecutive patients with laryngeal nonsquamous malignancies of whom 10 underwent total laryngectomy and 19 conservative surgery (partial laryngectomies)., Results: Of the 29 patients with of laryngeal nonsquamous malignancies, 16 were alive and free from disease after treatment, 5 died of other causes, 1 was lost at follow-up, and 7 died of the disease. Statistical analysis failed in disclosing a significantly different local recurrence rate after conservative surgery vs radical surgery after a mean follow-up period of 5.5 years., Conclusions: From the preliminary data emerging from the study, it seems that in nonsquamous malignancies of the larynx, the surgical approach should be the most conservative surgery possible, tailored to neoplasm extent and patient conditions. Although cervical lymph node metastases are unusual, long-term follow-up is mandatory considering the relatively high incidence of distant metastases even after years.

Malignant nerve sheath tumours (MNSTs) are more frequently diagnosed in the extremities, the chest wall and the abdominal wall. Laryngeal MNST is an extremely rare occurrence, particularly in children. We treated a laryngeal recurrence of MNST in a 13-year-old boy with chemotherapy followed by horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy extended to left arytenoid and ipsilateral vocal fold and bilateral neck dissection. Four years later, hemithyroidectomy was performed for thyroid MNST recurrence. At present, 6 years after last intervention, the patient shows no evidence of recurrent disease.

Supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidopexy (CHP) or cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP) is a conservative laryngeal surgery tailored to T1b-T2-T3 glottic-supraglottic carcinomas. Tracheohyoidopexy (THP) and tracheohyoidoepiglottopexy (THEP) allow a chance of conservative surgery also for selected transglottic carcinomas. These techniques are comprehensively named reconstructive laryngectomies (RLs). Post RL laryngeal stenosis not due to carcinoma persistence or recurrence is an unusual occurrence. The aim of the present study has been to analyse retrospectively and describe the treatment of the cases of laryngeal stenosis after RL, which occurred in Vittorio Veneto Otolaryngological Department in a 6 year period. In the period between 1999 and 2004, 225 patients underwent RL in our Department. In 18 of them (8%) a laryngeal stenosis after RL was diagnosed. The same evidence was shown in 2 patients who underwent RL in other Institutions. All patients underwent CO(2) laser surgical treatment of the laryngeal stenosis. The 14 patients who underwent RL-CHEP, the 5 patients who underwent THEP and the patient who underwent CHP were treated on average with CO(2) laser 1.2 (range 1-2), 4.2 (range 2-7), and 2 times, respectively. Decannulation was possible in all patients but one after CO(2) laser treatment of the stenosis in a mean period of 3.4 months. Laryngeal stenoses after RLs can be successfully treated with CO(2) laser excision with a very limited morbility. The only reasonable contra-indication to CO(2) laser excision could be a cranio-caudal length of the laryngeal stenotic tract longer than 1 cm: in this occurrence diagnosed after THP or THEP, an external surgical approach could be preferred.

Conclusions: Adult supraglottic hemangiomas can be treated successfully with CO2 laser excision with limited morbidity. Extended laryngeal cavernous hemangiomas involving hypopharynx should be approached with staged CO2 laser surgical procedures., Objectives: Hemangioma of the adult larynx is an uncommon, benign lesion characterized by thin, friable mucosa overlying the vascular stroma. The optimal surgical approach to these lesions is still controversial because only anecdotal case reports or very limited series are available. We report a 3-year, retrospective, single institution study of the results of CO2 laser treatment of supraglottic hemangiomas in adults., Patients and Methods: Six consecutive cases of adult laryngeal hemangioma were treated by the first author with CO2 laser microsurgery alone., Results: In five of six cases, no recurrences have been diagnosed (median follow-up period: 29 months). One case presented limited persistence of disease in the retro-cricoid and arytenoids at 20-month follow-up control.

Laryngeal localization (nearly always hypoglottic) of adenoid cystic carcinoma is quite rare (0.6% of all malignant laryngeal tumors). In most cases the local development of the neoplasm is slow, of an infiltrating and highly invasive nature (affecting the cartilage, thyroid gland, esophagus). On the other hand in some cases, particularly in the laryngeal-tracheal localization, the tumors take on an exophytic, sessile, polypoid aspect. Although the evolution is quite slow prognosis is poor due to the latent spreading of distant metastasis (average survival is 8 years). Prognosis is further worsened by delay in diagnosis due to the poor, aspecific initial symptoms. C.A.T. and N.M.R. have made a marked contribution to improved diagnostic definition, especially in terms of tumor extension, which is of great importance in therapeutic staging. Given the poor results obtained with radiotherapy and chemotherapy the only possible treatment is surgery which, in most cases, must be quite radical. Only in those forms which are still localized (with endoluminal exophytic development) is it possible to perform conservative surgery. Two paradigmatic cases are reported here indicating two different tumor extensions: in the first case total laryngectomy was performed and extended to the thyroid gland and the upper portion of the trachea; in the second, a partial glottic-subglottic laryngectomy was performed with functional restoration of laryngeal function. Conservative surgery is only possible if the hypoglottic neoformation is limited to the larynx, if it is mainly exophytic in nature and if histological examination reveals a low degree of malignancy (a high degree of cell differentiation). Since this type of carcinoma tends to give rise to latent distant metastases prognosis is, in all cases, poor no matter what surgical technique is employed for the primary tumor. Therefore it is imperative that a conservative laryngectomy be performed in all cases where it proves oncologically possible and particular attention should be paid to the quality of the patient's post-surgery life.

Three-quarter laryngectomy is regarded as a supraglottic laryngectomy which has been extended on one side to the glottic plane. Indications are those for supraglottic laryngectomy at the vestibular level and of cordectomy extended to the arytenoid at the glottic level (undamaged lower paraglottic space, preserved motility). Surgical technique includes total removal of the laryngeal vestibule together with the hyoid bone, pre-epiglottic space and one supracricoid hemilarynx (vocal cord, arytenoid, medial wall of the entrance of the pyriform fossa) through an internal, subperichondrial approach. Reconstruction of a new cord on the hemilaryngectomy side is through a triangular strip of the exterior thyroid perichondrium. From 1975 to 1989 44 patients underwent a three-quarter laryngectomy in the authors' department. Functional results were positive in all cases. The oncological results were as follows: 6 recurrences (3 local, 2 locoregional lymph node recurrences and 1 distant metastasis) and 4 primary secondary tumors. 9 patients expired (6 of T, 2 of secondary tumor, 1 of other causes). The actuarial 5-year survival rate for the tumor was 79%.