Modified subtotal laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy?long term results in 81 patients

BACKGROUND: Standard treatment of early glottic carcinoma is radiotherapy, but involvement of the anterior commissure leads to a reduced cure rate. We investigated retrospectively whether our modified subtotal laryngectomy had improved results for early glottic carcinomas involving the anterior commissure, without causing excessive disability to laryngeal functions. METHODS: Eighty-one patients with T1 or T2 glottic carcinoma involving the anterior commissure were reviewed. Follow-up was at least 3 years. Speech was assessed by subjective evaluation and a computer-assisted voice analysis device. RESULTS: Three-year overall survival rate and 3- and 5-year actuarial survival rates were, respectively, 90.1%, 95%, and 90.8%, with no difference between the different T stages involved (p > 0.46). The local recurrence rate was 7.4%. Speech recovered in all patients and was evaluated as satisfactory in 86% of cases. CONCLUSION: For early glottic carcinomas involving the anterior commissure, subtotal laryngectomies appear to be more effective than radiotherapy, and our modified technique simplifies the procedure.