Laryngeal Cancer: A Five-Year Retrospective Study of 40 Cases at Avicenne Military Hospital, Marrakech

Objective: Laryngeal cancer represents one of the most frequent malignancies of the upper aerodigestive tract and remains a major public health concern globally. In Morocco, it constitutes a significant proportion of head and neck cancers, often diagnosed at advanced stages. This study aims to analyze the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic, and evolutionary features of laryngeal cancer in a Moroccan military tertiary center.

Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 40 cases of histologically confirmed laryngeal cancer managed between January 2017 and January 2022 in the Otorhinolaryngology Department of Avicenne Military Hospital (Marrakech). Data were collected from medical records and analyzed using SPSS 21.0.

Results: Among the 40 patients, 36 were men (90%) and 4 were women (10%), with a mean age of 61 years. Smoking was the predominant risk factor (90%), whereas alcohol consumption was reported in only 15% of cases. Dysphonia was the most frequent presenting symptom (85%), reflecting the predominance of glottic tumors (65%). Imaging revealed locally advanced tumors in the majority of cases: T3 (40%) and T4 (25%). Surgical management was performed in 80% of patients, including 18 total laryngectomies and 11 partial laryngectomies. Radiotherapy was administered to 85% of patients, and chemotherapy was used in organ-preservation protocols or as adjuvant therapy. The overall two-year survival rate was 70%, with a recurrence rate of 15%.

Conclusion: Laryngeal cancer remains a significant health burden, with diagnosis often delayed and associated with modifiable risk factors, mainly tobacco use. Early recognition of symptoms and improved access to specialized care may enhance prognosis. Multidisciplinary management combining surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy offers optimal outcomes, particularly when individualized according to tumor stage.