The behavior of cancer affecting the subglottic space.

This retrospective study comprises 45 patients with subglottic carcinoma, arising either primarily or by spread from glottic carcinoma. The relevant literature is reviewed. Points of interest concerning the natural history of these carcinomata are: 1) The incidence of primary subglottic carcinoma was seven per cent of all laryngeal carcinomata and the incidence of subglottic spread of glottic carcinoma was 11.4 per cent. 2) At the time of presentation, vocal cord fixation was present in 40 per cent of the total group; 16 per cent of the true subglottic group had palpable nodes in the neck, and 5.5 per cent of the subglottic spread group. 3) Of the patients with true subglottic lesions, 44 per cent were women, 64 per cent presented with stridor and 32 per cent required emergency tracheostomy, 32 per cent developed distant metastases, half of these being in bone. 4) Only one of 45 patients developed mediastinal metastasis.