Partial laryngectomy following irradiation

Partial laryngectomy after full course of irradiation was performed in 65 patients as a salvage for residual tumors and local recurrences. The results are reviewed and compared to results obtained by primary operation. It appears that in glottic lesions excellent results by vertical laryngectomy may be obtained without increased complication rate due to irradiation. In supraglottic tumors horizontal laryngectomy is accompanied by increased postoperative morbidity and severely impaired function to such a degree that total laryngectomy is the operation of choice for irradiation failures in supraglottic recurrences.