Partial laryngectomy for recurrent glottic carcinoma after radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND

Early laryngeal cancer is treated with surgery or radiotherapy. A partial laryngectomy instead of a total laryngectomy can be used for treating patients with radiation failures.

METHODS

Patients were grouped by the two types of partial laryngectomies we performed: group I, endoscopic laser surgery (n = 42); and group II, frontolateral partial laryngectomy (n = 21).

RESULTS

With CO2 laser treatment, 14 of 24 patients (no involvement of the anterior commissure) and eight of 18 patients (involvement of the anterior commissure) were cured. With the frontolateral partial laryngectomy, we achieved local control in 15 of 21 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

If the surgeon is familiar with the different techniques of, and indications for, partial laryngectomy, this can be a good and satisfying treatment in selected patients with radiation failure for glottic cancer