[An evaluation of surgical techniques and oncologic results in early glottic cancers].

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the surgical techniques employed and survival rates in patients who were treated for early glottic cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 29 patients (28 males, 1 female; mean age 59 years; range 47 to 73 years) who underwent surgery for early glottic cancer. Surgical techniques were employed in view of factors such as involvement of the anterior commissure, the extent of sub- or supraglottic invasion, and cord mobility. Two- and five-year survival rates were calculated. TNM classification was made according to the 1992 AJCC staging system.

RESULTS

Preoperative tumor stages were TisN0 (n=2, 7%), T1N0 (n=20, 69%), and T2N0 (n=7, 24%). Surgical techniques included laryngofissure and cordectomy (n=9, 31%), frontolateral laryngectomy (n=18, 62%), and vertical hemilaryngectomy (n=2, 7%). Positive surgical margins were reported postoperatively in 10 patients, eight of whom remained tumor-free with (n=4) or without (n=4) radiation therapy during the follow-up period, while two patients underwent total laryngectomy because of local recurrences. Three patients died due to causes other than the primary disease. Two- and five-year survival rates were 88.8% and 80%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Involvement of the anterior commissure, and the extent of invasion to the subglottis, supraglottis, and the laryngeal ventricle seem to play a major role in selecting the most appropriate surgical technique in early glottic cancer.