[Comparison of laryngoscopy and CT-scan results before partial laryngectomy].

OBJECTIVES

Careful assessment of tumor extension is required before partial laryngectomy in order to ensure optimal carcinological safety. Laryngoscopy and CT-scan constitute the explorations of reference. We investigated the value of these two examinations and their association for the evaluation of glottic and supraglottic tumors.

METHOD

We compared laryngoscopy and CT findings with those of the pathologic examination of the surgical specimen in a retrospective study of 57 patients.

RESULTS

The results were presented by T-staging, then as a function of the laryngeal floor of the tumor and the anatomic localization. The laryngoscopy findings were most contributive for small tumors. Large spaces are better examined with the scanner.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that the performance of laryngoscopy and CT-scan for the assessment of glottic and supraglottic tumors can be improved by a better knowledge of the limitations of each type of explorations for this type of assessment. CT-scan currently provides a better topographic assessment of the tumor than endoscopy; even higher performance can be expected with the advent of technological advances.