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Hyoepiglottic ligament in supraglottic cancer
1Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
|October 1, 1995
Summary
The hyoepiglottic ligament (HL) acts as a barrier preventing supraglottic cancer spread to the tongue base. Cancer breaching the HL invades adjacent spaces, highlighting its role as a surgical boundary.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Oncology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- The hyoepiglottic ligament (HL) anatomically separates the supraglottic larynx from the tongue base.
- Understanding HL's role is crucial for surgical resection of supraglottic cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the cephalad spread of supraglottic cancer in relation to the hyoepiglottic ligament.
- To evaluate the hyoepiglottic ligament as a surgical boundary for supraglottic cancer resection.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 70 whole mount serially sectioned laryngectomy specimens from patients with supraglottic cancer.
- Histopathologic examination to assess cancer invasion patterns relative to the hyoepiglottic ligament.
Main Results:
- The hyoepiglottic ligament (HL) was breached by cancer in 13% of specimens.
- Cancer invasion through the HL invariably involved the preepiglottic and paraglottic spaces.
- No cancer spread to the tongue base occurred without breaching the HL or associated structures.
Conclusions:
- The hyoepiglottic ligament (HL) functions as a resilient barrier against cancer spread from the supraglottis to the tongue base.
- The HL serves as a deep cephalad surgical boundary for supraglottic cancer resection when cancer is confined and does not invade the suprahyoid epiglottis.
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