Primary subglottic carcinoma masquerading clinically as T1 glottic carcinoma--a report of nine cases

In a clinical and pathological study of patients who had failed radiotherapy for T1 glottic carcinoma, nine patients were encountered who presented with hoarseness, and were considered clinically to have glottic carcinoma at an early stage. Whole organ sections of the laryngectomy specimens showed them to be tumors arising in the subglottic region with involvement of the vocal cord as a late manifestation of their disease. The clinical and pathological features of these nine patients and their tumors are discussed with emphasis on how the diagnosis may be made prior to embarking upon therapy.