Objective:

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the results of early-stage glottic laryngeal cancer patients who underwent laryngofissure cordectomy. Results were analyzed in terms of positive margins and survival rates.

Methods:

This prospective study was conducted on 232 patients (mean age, 55.2 years; range, 34– 76 years) who underwent laryngofissure cordectomy (without tracheotomy) between 1977 and 1996 for T1 glottic carcinoma.

Results:

The results of the 167 patients with adequate follow-up were evaluated. Sixteen patients (6.8%) were detected with one or two positive margins. One patient with three positive margins was reoperated with near total laryngectomy. The remaining 15 patients were closely followed up. Fourteen of the 167 patients (8.3%) had local recurrence, and 50% of patients with local recurrence (n=7) underwent additional partial laryngectomy. In our series, the five-year survival rate was 91.6% without recurrence and 95.8% with salvage surgery.

Conclusion:

Laryngofissure cordectomy is suitable for the treatment of early-stage tumors because it does not require tracheotomy, has a low cost, and has low complications rates.

Keywords: Laryngeal cancer, early stage, laryngofissure, cordectomy