Computed tomography vs. histology of laryngeal cancer: their value in predicting laryngeal cartilage invasion.

Twenty-seven cancerous larynges were examined preoperatively by computed tomography and postoperatively by transaxial anatomic sections. Data from this correlative study provides a new radiographic classification based upon the relationship of the plane of maximal tumor size to the apex, body, or vocal process of the arytenoid. Unlike those tumors whose maximal size lies at or above the apex of the arytenoid, those below have a very high association with cartilage invasion (8% in former group, 86% in latter group). This is explained by our observation of sites of predilection of tumor invasion of the thyroid, cricoid, and arytenoid cartilages. At these sites collagen fibers have been observed to pass through the perichondrium and attach directly to cartilage. These same fibers may serve as a pathway to direct growth of tumor cells. There was no correlation between six histologic parameters and the presence of cartilage invasion.