Risk Factors of Stomal Recurrence After Laryngectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We wished to investigate the risk factors for stoma recurrence following laryngectomy.

METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched to identify primary research studies published between January 1, 1967, and October 31, 2016. We only included observational epidemiological studies and used risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to summarize the primary risk factors associated with recurrence following laryngectomy.

RESULTS: A total of 44 articles, including 11 928 patients, were included in the current meta-analysis. The pooled estimates of the stomal recurrence rate and the local recurrence rate following laryngectomy were 6.60% (95% CI, 5.40-7.90) and 19.40% (95% CI, 14.00%-24.80%), respectively. For stomal recurrence, we confirmed a series of earlier identified factors, including tumor site, prior tracheotomy, tracheotomy timing, T-classification, lymph node metastases, postoperative pharyngoperistomal fistula, and a positive surgical margin. For local recurrence, postoperative radiotherapy, overexpression of p53, and overexpression of p21 were significant, while preoperative tracheostomy and postoperative pharyngoperistomal fistula had an unexpectedly low impact on risk.

CONCLUSION: This study has confirmed a series of earlier identified factors for stomal recurrence and local recurrence following laryngectomy. Our results will provide important insights for clinical practice.