Carcinomas of the thyroid gland invading larynx and trachea

Twenty-nine patients with a thyroid carcinoma invading the larynx and trachea were treated over a 25-yr period. Eight patients had invasion of the walls of the trachea or larynx and 21 had invasion into the lumen. Of the 15 patients who underwent limited surgery, i.e. total thyroidectomy, tracheostomy and neck dissection, 8 had intraluminal invasion and 7 suffered from bleeding into the trachea or airway obstruction. In contrast, none of the 13 who underwent extensive surgery, i.e. thyroidectomy, laryngectomy, partial resection of the trachea and one resection of the pharynx, (12 of whom had intraluminal invasion) showed either bleeding into the trachea or airway obstruction. Although the prognosis was no better in the group undergoing extensive operation there is the feeling that in cases with intraluminal invasion extensive surgery is indicated to prevent the severe airway difficulties which often develop in such patients.