SUBTOTAL LARYNGECTOMY WITH CRICO-HYOIDO-EPIGLOTTO-PEXY FOR THE TREATMENT OF EXTENDED GLOTTIC CARCINOMAS

We first described subtotal laryngectomy with crico-hyoido-epiglotto-pexy in 1974. This procedure is a modification of Majer's operation and results in the complete resection of the intact thyroid cartilage. The epiglottic petiole, the false cords, the true cords, and one arytenoid are also excised, along with the paraglottic space. The pharynx is closed by suturing the cricoid to the epiglottis and the hyoid bone. The neoglottis is occluded during deglutition by the epiglottis and the base of tongue, which come into contact with the remaining arytenoid. Postoperative hospitalization lasts approximately 3 weeks, and patients have a strong but deep voice. Between 1972 and 1985, we treated 104 patients with stage T2 and T3 lesions of the glottis using this method. A retrospective analysis showed that the overall survival rate of patients was 86% at 3 years and 75% at 5 years. Five patients experienced local recurrence. Seven patients had recurrences in the neck, and eight developed second primaries. Thirteen patients were lost to follow-up or developed intercurrent disease. Patients with T3NO lesions were treated with unilateral prophylactic neck dissection, and positive nodes were found in 23% of cases. We believe that the high proportion of positive nodes justifies routine prophylactic neck dissection in these patients. Because our operation is associated with good local control (5% recurrence rate), we propose that, for the treatment of extended glottic cancers, it replace transcartilaginous procedures that are associated with much higher recurrence rates.