[Laryngeal T4 carcinomas. The possibility of conservative treatment. Long-term oncological and functional results]

The term laryngeal T4 carcinoma is applied to a heterogeneous group of neoplasias which may be treated following various surgical approaches. The elective therapy in dealing with many of these tumours (minimal cartilage involvement, marginal hypopharyngeal extension, supra-glottic cancer with oro-pharyngeal extension) is that of a conservative approach. Our clinical experience with regard to 276 T4 laryngeal tumours is presented in this paper. Oncological and functional results with partial surgery are reviewed and discussed and long-term results obtained with widened total laryngectomy (plus Radio and/or Chemotherapy) are presented.