[Mobility of the vocal cord and the arytenoid in cancer of the larynx and the hypopharynx. Anatomo-clinical study].

Fourty one squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, laryngeal margin and larynx were studied in order to compare the vocal cord and arytenoid mobilities with the tumoral extension to the intrinsic laryngeal muscles. Several whole organ sections were performed on the surgical specimen for studying specifically the lateral and posterior cricoarytenoid muscles, thyroarytenoid muscles and crico-arytenoid joint. The weight of the tumor located at the top of the arytenoid cartilage without any tumoral extension of the crico-arytenoid muscles can fix the arytenoid, preserving the vocal cord mobility. On the other hand, the simultaneous immobility of vocal cord and arytenoid was associated respectively with 66% of tumoral extension to the crico-arytenoid muscles in hypopharynx and lateral margin carcinomas, and 33% in endolaryngeal tumors. The authors emphasize that a separate clinical evaluation of vocal cord and arytenoid mobilities would give more precise informations concerning surgical indications of laryngeal conservative surgery.