Conservation surgery for early laryngeal carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Oncology
• Laryngeal Cancer Management

Background:

• Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma is common, with traditional treatments like radiotherapy and laryngectomy.
• Organ-preserving strategies aim to maintain laryngeal functions (respiration, speech, deglutition) while ensuring oncological control.
• While modern trends favor endoscopic techniques, open conservative surgery remains relevant.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the oncological and functional outcomes of open conservative surgery for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
• To assess the viability of organ-preserving policies in laryngeal cancer management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 216 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
• All patients underwent partial laryngectomy as first-line treatment (vertical partial, supraglottic hemilaryngectomy, or supracricoid subtotal laryngectomy).
• Minimum follow-up of 2 years, maximum of 16 years.

Main Results:

• Overall disease-free survival was 92.1%.
• Laryngeal preservation rate was 94.4%, with only 11 patients requiring total laryngectomy (10 as salvage).
• High decanulation rate (95%) and manageable aspiration (18.9%) with no major morbidities or mortalities.

Conclusions:

• Open conservative surgery is a viable option for laryngeal cancer, offering comparable functional and oncological results.
• This approach should be considered when other protocols are impractical due to logistical, economic, or patient-related factors.
• It supports organ preservation policies in laryngeal cancer treatment.