Controversies in the diagnosis and treatment of early carcinoma of the larynx

Patients in whom the diagnosis of early carcinoma of the larynx is made and treated as outlined below have a good to excellent outlook (from 85 to 95% survival for glottic lesions). Metastases from lesions of the free edge of the vocal cord usually do not occur because of the paucity of lymphatics, whereas lesions of the supraglottis are more apt to metastasize to regional lymph nodes and local spread. The subglottic area on the other hand by in large has a more ominous prognosis. Carcinoma in situ is treated mainly by endoscopic surgery, whereas T1 lesions of the glottis can either be treated by surgery or radiation with comparable results. This author prefers conservation surgery for the majority of T1 lesions. Radiotherapy is utilized for selected patients with T1 glottic lesions.