[Glottic-hypoglottic laryngectomy in the treatment of laryngeal tumors].

Subglottic cancers and glottic cancers with subglottic extension are considered extremely serious because they are not easily detected and are normally quite advanced when diagnosed. Furthermore these cancers spread rapidly beyond the larynx to the lymph nodes (cervical and recurrential chains). Total laryngectomy is elective surgery in the treatment of subglottic cancer. However, in selected cases, small tumors may also be treated successfully with partial glottic-subglottic laryngectomy. The aim of this paper is to present a personal experience with partial surgery in the treatment of subglottic cancer. The surgical operation consists of the resection of both vocal cords, the subglottic region and the cricoid cartilage with the proximal tracheal rings. The larynx is reconstructed through a tracheal-thyroid approach. The surgical technique is illustrated and the authors' experience discussed.