Transoral supraglottic laryngectomies

Abstract

Objectives: To emphasize that benign and early supraglottic malignant laryngeal pathologies can be treated with transoral surgery.Methods: Twenty-five patients that supraglottic laryngectomy was performed for benign and malignant laryngeal pathologies between November 1997 and March 2006 were evaluated retrospectively. Transoral surgery was planned for 25 patients (24 male, 1 female) according to preoperative radiological evaluation and biopsy result. The sociocultural status, systemic problems of the patients and the cure ratios in the malignant pathologies were considered.Results: Four of these patients were operated for benign pathology and 21 of them were operated for malignant pathology. We followed up the patients about respiration, swallowing functions and recurrences. Recurrences were detected at 3 patients and total laryngectomy was performed to these patients. The follow up period was between 5 and 108 months (average 53 months).Conclusion: Although the cure rate of supraglottic malignant lesions with partial laryngectomy is low because of late onset of symptoms and rich lymphatic drainage of this region, limited epiglottic and aryepiglottic fold tumors and benign pathologies can be treated with transoral supraglottic laryngectomy.

Keywords

• supraglottic laryngectomy
• supraglottic carcinoma
• transoral surgery