Pitfalls in the surgical management of cancer of the larynx and hypopharynx.

This article is based on findings in 180 patients with cancer of the larynx and hypopharynx. Positive margins were found in 12.2% (22/180) of all tumors, 12.5% (8/64) of supraglottic tumors, 16% (4/25) of transglottic tumors, 5.3% (2/38) of glottic tumors, 11.1% (2/18) of pyriform fossa tumors, 50% (3/6) of posterior pharyngeal wall tumors, and 10.6% (3/29) of postcricoid tumors. The relationship between the inadequate surgical margins of the specimens, tumor spread, preoperative CT findings, and surgical procedures performed have been correlated.