Management of early vocal cord carcinoma

Endoscopic stripping or laser therapy are the primary modalities for patients with premalignant vocal cord lesions and patients with T1 carcinomas of the mid-portion of the vocal cord. Partial laryngectomy is advocated for patients whose resection margins are positive following laser cordectomy, or where tumor extends to the arytenoid, anterior commissure, opposite vocal cord or subglottis. Radiotherapy is reserved for patients with tumors involving the interarytenoid region, professional voice patients, or patients unfit for general anesthesia.