Experience with supracricoid laryngectomy variants

Salvage open partial horizontal laryngectomy after failed radiotherapy: A multicentric study

OBJECTIVES

The primary aim of the present study was to report our multi-institutional experience in surgical salvage with open partial horizontal laryngectomies (OPHL) after failed radiotherapy (RT) for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Secondary aims were to analyze the prognostic meaning of the main clinical and pathological parameters in relation to the oncologic outcome and to compare our results with the available literature.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective multicenter analysis of surgical oncological outcomes.

METHODS

We retrospectively review the clinical charts of 70 recurrent LSCC patients after primary RT failure undergone salvage OPHL.

RESULTS

At last follow-up, 46 patients (65%) were disease-free; six (9%) were alive with disease; nine (12%) died because of the disease; and nine (12%) died without evidence of disease. The final local control, overall survival, disease-specific survival, and laryngectomy-free survival were 87%, 75%, 87%, and 91%, respectively. Twelve patients (17%) experienced postoperative complications, whereas 18 patients (25%) experienced late sequelae. In five patients (7%), decannulation was not possible because of postoperative laryngeal stenosis.

CONCLUSION

In selected patients, when proper selection criteria for conservation laryngeal surgery are adopted, OPHL can be considered for salvage after RT failure.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 130:431-436, 2020.

Laryngeal reconstruction with a sternohyoid muscle flap after supracricoid laryngectomy: postoperative respiratory and swallowing evaluation

OBJECTIVE

To compare postoperative respiratory and swallowing functions between patients who underwent classic supracricoid laryngectomy (SCL) and those who underwent SCL with laryngeal reconstruction using the sternohyoid muscle.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

National cancer center.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Forty-four patients who consecutively underwent SCL for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma from December 2009 to March 2011 were included. Postoperative parameters including the mean tracheostomy decannulation time, tracheostomy decannulation rate at 6 months, mean nasogastric tube (NGT) removal time, degree of dysphagia at 3 months, and survival time after surgery were evaluated.

RESULTS

Twenty-one patients underwent classic SCL (group A), and 23 underwent SCL with laryngeal reconstruction (group B). After a median follow-up period of 37 months (range, 3-44 months), group A had a significantly longer mean decannulation time (120.05 ± 109.38 days vs 33.43 ± 22.60 days, respectively; P < .01) and NGT removal time (37.30 ± 29.97 days vs 17.22 ± 10.95 days, respectively; P < .01) than group B. Swallowing function after 6 months was significantly better in group B than in group A (P = .004). The decannulation rate after 6 months was significantly higher in group B than in group A (95.7% vs 66.7%, respectively; P = .036). The 3-year disease-free survival rate was not significantly different between group A and group B (95.2% vs 95.7%, respectively; P = .961).

CONCLUSION

Laryngeal reconstruction using a sternohyoid muscle flap seems to improve quality of life in the early postoperative period after SCL.

Management of advanced laryngeal cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx continues to be the commonest head and neck cancer in many Western countries. The larynx plays a key role for many essential functions, including breathing, voice production, airway protection, and swallowing. The goals of laryngeal cancer treatment are thus to provide best possible oncologic control, while optimizing functional outcomes. In recent decades, the treatment paradigm for advanced laryngeal cancer has shifted from one of primary surgery (total laryngectomy) as gold standard, toward non-surgical organ-preserving treatment using radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. However, concerns have emerged regarding functional outcomes after chemoradiotherapy, as well as possible decreased overall survival in patients with laryngeal cancer. The purpose of the present review is to review surgical and non-surgical options for treatment of advanced laryngeal cancer, as well as the evidence supporting each of these.