Management of bilateral glottic tumors.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the rates of cure and complication and the time to decannulation and deglutition in patients undergoing resection of bilateral glottic tumors.

DESIGN

A 22-year, nonrandomized, prospective, retrospective analysis.

SETTING

Two academic tertiary care referral centers.

PARTICIPANTS

Seventy-two patients with bilateral glottic carcinoma were treated using bilateral hemilaryngectomy. Depending on the size of the tumor and the extent of thyroid cartilage resection, patients underwent 1 of 3 methods of reconstruction: group 1, placement of an anterior commissure stent (34 patients); group 2, epiglottic laryngoplasty (15 patients); and group 3, staged posterior thyroid alar transposition laryngoplasty (23 patients).

INTERVENTION: Resection and reconstruction of 72 larynges with bilateral glottic tumors using the bilateral hemilaryngectomy procedures.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acceptable rates of cure and complication, intervals to decannulation and deglutition, and quality of speech.

RESULTS

High rates of tumor control and cure, low rates of recurrence and complication, acceptable time to decannulation and deglutition, and adequate quality and intelligibility of speech.

CONCLUSIONS

Bilateral vocal cord carcinoma can be treated surgically with a high degree of tumor control and cure. The use of all 3 methods maintained laryngeal function with regard to tracheal decannulation, oral alimentation, and speech intelligibility.