Surgical treatment in head and neck cancer

Three topics currently important in head and neck surgery are voice-conserving surgical treatment of laryngeal cancer, the role of modified radical neck dissection in the treatment of cervical metastases, and reconstruction and rehabilitation of the head and neck cancer patient. The laser has become an accepted modality for the treatment of early vocal cord cancer and has local control rates comparable to other treatment methods. Partial laryngectomy can conserve voice and yield excellent local control rates. The modified radical neck dissection has been shown to yield rates of local recurrence no greater than radical neck dissection for N0 and N1 neck disease associated with laryngeal cancer. Vocal rehabilitation following total laryngectomy has been revolutionized by the tracheoesophageal puncture procedure. Most patients can be expected to acquire voice using tracheoesophageal puncture following total laryngectomy. Free flaps have improved the functional results of many major head and neck surgical procedures and offer the possibility of better results in the future. However, more conventional reconstructive techniques, including local flaps, continue to have a role in head and neck surgery.