Supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy: a partial laryngeal procedure for glottic carcinoma.

The partial horizontal supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy consists of resection of the whole thyroid cartilage and paraglottic space. The cricoid cartilage, the hyoid bone, most of the epiglottis, and at least one arytenoid cartilage are conserved. Thirty-six patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the glottis who underwent this procedure from 1974 through 1986 are presented. All 36 recovered physiologic deglutition and phonation. None required a permanent tracheotomy. The 3-year actuarial survival rate was 86.5%. The local recurrence rate was 5.5%. The indications for the procedure are carcinomas of the glottis that 1) spread beyond the confines of the membranous portion of the true vocal cord or 2) present with limitation of true vocal cord mobility. The procedure is presented as a useful alternative to radiotherapy, partial vertical laryngectomy, and total laryngectomy in select cases of glottic carcinoma.