At most interdisciplinary tumour centres, radiotherapy is of prime importance in the concept of therapy for the majority of the cases of laryngeal carcinoma treated, or it is even employed – exploratively and with curative intent – as the sole therapy at first. At all events initial radiotherapy occupies a dominant position today. Against this background the question is often discussed whether, after a ‘low dose’ has been attained (particularly in the case of a supraglottic tumour), a partial or total laryngectomy should be performed or the radiation dose substantially increased with the aim of obtaining a cure. However, the difficulties involved immediately after irradiation or later in recognizing a persistent or recurrent carcinoma and readily identifying it histologically may be very great. Various aspects of such situations – both diagnostic and therapeutic – are dicussed in general and with reference to cas