PURPOSE: To determine the predictive value of several clinical and radiologic parameters for recurrence of laryngeal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty previously untreated patients underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging before radiation therapy with curative intent. Tumor volume was calculated from T1-weighted MR images. Cartilage was considered invaded by pathologic tissue if it had intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted spin-echo (SE) MR images and high signal intensity on T2-weighted SE MR images. The minimum follow-up was 2 years. RESULTS: Parameters such as age, sex, histopathologic findings, and invasion of the vocal muscle or pre-epiglottic space were not significantly correlated with tumor recurrence. Logistic regression analysis showed three relevant contributors: cord mobility, as judged clinically, and tumor volume and, more significantly, cartilage invasion, as seen at MR imaging. CONCLUSION: For untreated laryngeal cancer, MR imaging findings of tumor volume and cartilage invasion allow better patient selection for either radiation therapy or surgery. MR imaging is mandatory for T staging of laryngeal cancer.