Management of the thyroid gland with laryngectomy for cT3 glottic carcinomas

Is routine hemithyroidectomy justified in laryngectomy for laryngeal carcinoma? Hemithyroidectomy with laryngectomy causes hypothyroidism in up to 25% of patients, and if combined with radiotherapy, in up to 70%. ^3,8,9,10 In this review of 102 total laryngectomies with routine hemithyroidectomy for cT3 glottic carcinoma, laryngeal carcinoma involved the thyroid gland in two. Both had subglottic tumour extension. The tumour approached within 3 mm of the thyroid capsule in seven. It is proposed that thyroidectomy should be performed only in selected laryngeal carcinomas. Intraoperative assessment of the thyroid gland should determine the need for thyroidectomy in glottic and transglottic carcinomas. Carcinoma invasion of the thyroid gland should be confirmed by frozen section before proceeding to thyroidectomy. In the absence of thyroid gland involvement, both thyroid lobes may be preserved. Total thyroidectomy should be performed if the thyroid gland has been invaded. Total thyroidectomy should be routinely performed with subglottic carcinomas.     

Intraoperative management of the thyroid gland in laryngeal cancer surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if it is necessary to perform a hemithyroidectomy routinely with all total laryngectomies or if it should be reserved for selected cases. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of 215 cases who had been operated on due to laryngeal cancer in our clinic between 1985 and 1999. SETTING: In only 182 cases, hemithyroidectomy and isthmectomy were performed together with laryngeal surgery. Of these, 98% were male. Their ages ranged between 42 and 70 years. The tumour was located in the supraglottic region in 93 (51%) and in the glottic region in 24 (13%) cases. In 65 cases (36%), the tumour was transglottic. Twenty cases of transglottic tumours (31%) and 3 cases of glottic tumours (12.5%) were found to have subglottic extension. METHODS: Total laryngectomy with unilateral or bilateral neck dissection and hemithyroidectomy on the tumour side plus isthmectomy were performed on all patients. On the pathologic specimens, subglottic extension was measured anteriorly and posteriorly from the free edges of the vocal cords. The specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined under a light microscope. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: With glottic and transglottic carcinomas, the need for thyroidectomy may be based on the intraoperative assessment of the thyroid gland. In subglottic carcinomas, a hemithyroidectomy should routinely be performed. There may be no need to perform thyroidectomy in all total laryngectomy cases. RESULTS: The thyroid gland was invaded by squamous cell carcinoma in only 2 cases (1%). Both of these cases were transglottic tumours staged as T3 and T4 and had a subglottic extension more than 1 cm. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend routine hemithyroidectomy and isthmectomy during total laryngectomy only in cases with subglottic extensions more than 1 cm or thyroid cartilage invasion with tumour. In the other cases, assessment of extralaryngeal invasion and thyroid gland invasion by the tumour will determine whether thyroidectomy should be performed.     

Management of thyroid gland invasion in laryngopharyngeal cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The incidence of thyroid gland involvement in laryngopharyngeal cancer ranges from 0 to 23%. Therefore, ipsilateral hemithyroidectomy and isthmusectomy are routinely performed with total laryngectomy in many clinics. Hemithyroidectomy causes hypothyroidism in 63% of patients, and if combined with radiotherapy, the incidence increases to 89% of patients. But there is no consensus about using thyroid surgery in the treatment of laryngopharyngeal cancer. The purpose of this study was to identify criteria to use in the decision of whether, in cases of laryngopharyngeal cancer, hemithyroidectomy should be performed with total laryngectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 28 patients with a mean age of 63.2 years (range 42-77 years). All patients were treated by thyroidectomy with total laryngectomy. We evaluated the incidence of thyroid gland invasion, clinical predisposing factors, pathologic features, and prognosis in cases of laryngopharyngeal cancer. RESULTS: The incidence of thyroid gland invasion was 14% (4/28). Subglottic extension was the only statistically significant factor in thyroid invasion. All cases of laryngopharyngeal cancer that invaded the thyroid gland had vocal cord fixation, anterior commissure invasion, and were advanced stage. The most common mechanism of spread to the thyroid was by direct extension through thyroid cartilage and anterior commissure. While the prognosis of patients with thyroid gland invasion was worse than that of patients with no invasion, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic thyroidectomy should be performed in cases of laryngopharyngeal cancer where there is subglottic extension of the tumor.     

The intraoperative management of the thyroid gland during laryngectomy

The standard of care of laryngeal cancer surgery is wide field excision of the larynx combined with ipsilateral thyroid lobectomy. A retrospective review of 247 laryngectomies performed between 1979 and 1989 was undertaken to determine specific intraoperative indications for thyroid gland removal. The incidence of thyroid disease in our patients with laryngeal cancer was compared to the normal population. Eight percent of thyroid specimens removed during laryngeal cancer surgery demonstrated invasion by squamous cell carcinoma. All patients having thyroid invasion had T3 or T4 laryngeal lesions that were stage IV at the time of surgery. All these lesions were found to have transglottic growth and laryngeal cartilage invasion by the pathologist. All of these patients also had abnormal thyroid glands intraoperatively and laryngeal cartilage destruction that was evident intraoperatively. Total thyroidectomy with bilateral paratracheal and pretracheal lymph node dissection is indicated when squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx involves the thyroid gland. Prophylactic ipsilateral thyroid lobectomy and isthmusectomy is warranted for large laryngeal cancers (T3, T4) that involve the anterior commissure, the subglottic area, or extend transglottically. Routine thyroid gland removal is not indicated for the majority of laryngeal cancers that do not meet the aforementioned criteria. Finally, abnormal thyroid histopathology was diagnosed in 37% of the surgical thyroid gland specimens removed during laryngectomy.     

Predictors of thyroid gland invasion in glottic squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: This study examines preoperative clinical and intraoperative histopathologic characteristics that can be used to predict thyroid gland invasion in the setting of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the glottis. STUDY DESIGN: The study was retrospectively performed using 30 serially sectioned whole-organ total laryngectomy with thyroidectomy specimens with associated preoperative clinical data. METHODS: Histopathologic and clinical variables including true vocal cord (TVC) fixation, cricoarytenoid joint invasion, subglottic extension (SGE) of tumor, patterns of laryngeal spread, and prior radiation were examined as univariate and multivariate correlates of thyroid gland invasion. RESULTS: Twenty-three percent of thyroid gland specimens demonstrated SCC invasion. Five were T4 stage, two were T3 stage, and all demonstrated direct extension to the thyroid gland. Of these, all had a fixed ipsilateral TVC (P = .003) and SGE of tumor greater than 15 mm (P = .003). Using multivariate analysis, SGE of tumor and TVC fixation contribute independently as correlates of thyroid gland invasion. Prior radiation of the larynx did not correlate with thyroid gland invasion and did not significantly influence the predictive capacity of these variables. Tumors invading the thyroid gland also invaded the cricothyroid membrane (100%), anterior commissure (100%), laryngeal ventricle (100%), and thyroid cartilage (86%). CONCLUSION: Preoperative assessment of TVC mobility and extent of SGE are significant correlates of thyroid gland invasion by SCC of the glottis. Distinct patterns of laryngeal spread are associated with thyroid gland invasion. Prophylactic hemithyroidectomy with isthmusectomy is indicated for glottic SCC in the preoperative setting of a fixed TVC and SGE greater than 15 mm. Additional study correlating patterns of laryngeal spread with thyroid gland invasion will add to these data in determining when to selectively perform thyroidectomy in this setting.     

Thyroidectomy during laryngectomy for advanced laryngeal carcinoma — whole organ section study with long-term functional evaluation

Whole organ step-serial section of laryngectomy specimens was carried out in 16 patients with a T₃ and T₄ laryngeal carcinoma to study the involvement of the thyroid gland. Three patients (19%) were found to have tumour invasion into the thyroid gland, and two patients (16%) were found to have tumour on the thyroid capsule. Of the 12 patients who had tumour involving the subglottic region, five patients were found to have involvement of the thyroid gland. Of the remaining four patients without subglottic tumour extension, none had tumour involvement of the thyroid gland. Of the five patients who had long-term survival of 10 years, two patients had subclinical hypothyroidism and one patient had clinical hypothyroidism. We recommend routine hemithyroidectomy when the subglottic region is involved by tumour. The whole thyroid gland should be preserved when the laryngeal tumour is confined to the supraglottic and glottic regions without clinical evidence of thyroid gland involvement.     

Clinical effectiveness of thyroidectomy on the management of locally advanced laryngeal cancer

Objective

The incidence of thyroid gland invasion in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer was reported to be 0–50%. However there is a controversy in necessity and extent of routine thyroidectomy in these patients due to the difficulty in diagnosis of tumor invasion to thyroid gland and the risk of possible postoperative hypothyroidism and hypocalcemia.

Methods

The medical files of 47 patients who underwent thyroidectomy as part of surgical treatment for advanced laryngeal cancer were reviewed.

Results

Fourty-four (93.6%) patients underwent hemithyroidectomy, 3 (6.3%) patients underwent total thyroidectomy. Thyroid gland invasion was found in 2 (4.2%) patients. Hypothyroidism occurred in 15 (31.9%) patients, and their hormone levels were regulated with medical treatment during follow-up. Hypocalcemia was not found in any patients.

Conclusion

We recommend that at least a hemithyroidectomy should be performed in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer, if they have any predictive factor (subglottic extension more than 1 cm, invasion of paraglottic space, thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage and prelaryngeal tissue detected by radiological examination) for thyroid gland invasion.     

Prognostic significance of thyroid gland involvement in laryngeal carcinoma

We reviewed 173 laryngeal specimens that included thyroid tissue received from patients undergoing laryngectomy between 1966 and 1980 for evidence of thyroid gland invasion. Twenty-three (14%) of the larynges demonstrated thyroid involvement. In 15 specimens, involvement of the thyroid gland was by direct extension, and in eight the thyroid was involved metastatically. The survival in this group of patients was poor, with 18 patients dying of their disease within three years. Subglottic extension of 10 mm or greater was noted in 21 of 23 patients, and local recurrence was noted in 15 of 18 patients dying of their disease. The importance of removing one or both lobes of the thyroid gland in advanced laryngeal cancer is restated, and a surgically aggressive approach to the paratracheal nodes is recommended in patients with extensive subglottic involvement.     

喉癌喉前淋巴结转移

回顾性调查1865例行全喉切除的喉癌病例．发现120例喉癌有喉前淋巴结，其中24例发生喉前淋巴结转移。非转移性喉前淋巴结最大直径从0．2cm大小到1cm左右不等，转移性喉前淋巴结从0．2cm到最大直径1．9cm。喉前淋巴结转移率为1．3％．其中声门上癌、声门癌、声门下癌和跨声门癌的喉前淋巴结转移率分别为0．39％、0．73％、5．02％和2．55％。喉前淋巴结转移与细胞分化无关，与喉癌原发部位及肿瘤分期有关，声门下癌或侵犯声门下区的喉癌较声门上癌和声门癌易发生喉前淋巴结转移，跨声门侵犯的喉癌较声门上癌易发生喉前淋巴结转移；T3、T4期喉癌，较T1、T2期喉癌易发生喉前淋巴结转移；有喉前淋巴结转移的喉癌．易发生颈侧淋巴结转移。     

Results of surgical treatment alone for primary subglottic carcinoma

Primary subglottic carcinoma is rare and surgery is the most common therapeutic strategy for Chinese patients with this disease. To retrospectively evaluate surgically treated primary subglottic carcinoma treated with surgery. Patients with primary subglottic carcinoma who initially underwent surgery from 2005-2010 were grouped by surgical procedures with or without laryngeal function preservation and reviewed. Of 1815 patients with laryngeal cancer, 23 had a subglottic origin. Of these, 21 initially underwent surgery; 12 had ‘early’ (stage I/II) disease, and nine had ‘advanced’ (stage III/IV) disease. The actuarial 5-year OS was 73.9% [95% confidence interval (54.1% ～ 93.7%)] for patients with squamous cell carcinoma. Among patients with early disease, the 5-year OS and DFS were 80% for partial laryngectomy and 71.4% for total laryngectomy. Patients with advanced disease underwent total laryngectomy, and the 5-year OS and DFS were 62.5%. Satisfactory oncologic outcomes can be achieved with initial surgery. Patients with early disease who underwent partial laryngectomy had a comparable prognosis to those who underwent total laryngectomy; deglutition and speech function were maintained.     

Near-total laryngectomy for laryngeal carcinomas with subglottic extension

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Pearson classic near-total laryngectomy is a sensible surgical treatment modality for laryngeal carcinomas with subglottic extension. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of patients treated by near-total laryngectomy in a university hospital that is an academic tertiary health care center. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: Medical and computer records of 135 patients who were treated by near-total laryngectomy for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas between April 1, 1989, and June 30, 2000, were searched thoroughly, and the final outcomes were confirmed by telephone contact. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival rates of the patients with laryngeal carcinomas with subglottic extension treated by near-total laryngectomy were compared with those of the patients with malignancies of other laryngeal regions given the same treatment. RESULTS: Of the 135 patients in the study, 74 were available for determination of 5-year survival. The rate was 65.8% (27/41) for transglottic tumors, 53.8% (7/13) for supraglottic tumors, and 20.0% (4/20) for tumors with subglottic extension. Only 3 of 16 patients with laryngeal carcinomas with supraglottic or transglottic localization died of local recurrence; the rest of the deaths were from regional recurrence or distant metastasis. However, 6 of 13 patients with subglottic extension died of local recurrence, 5 of peristomal recurrence, and only 2 of distant metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Success was directly related to adherence to precise indications in cancer surgery. While near-total laryngectomy is an effective and reliable treatment modality in laryngeal cancer surgery, its effectiveness in laryngeal cancers with subglottic extension is debatable. These subglottic lesions should be treated by total laryngectomy, which is a more radical surgery.     

The impact of preoperative tracheotomy on T3 transglottic carcinomas of the larynx

To evaluate the impact of the practice of a preoperative tracheotomy and different prognostic factors reported in the literature in patients with transglottic carcinoma of the larynx, a retrospective study was performed in the Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia, Mexico City. In all, 90 cases with T3 transglottic squamous cell carcinoma requiring a total laryngectomy as primary treatment were studied. Prognostic factors such as the Karnofsky index, tumor differentiation, surgical margins and preoperative tracheotomy were analyzed by a Cox’s proportional hazards model. The Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test were used to evaluate the disease-free intervals and survival curves. Thirty-two patients had preoperative tracheotomies, while 58 did not. Eighty percent of the patients in the non-preoperative tracheotomy group were alive after 5 years versus 20% of those with preoperative tracheotomies (P < 0.001). Although possibly controversial, our findings indicate that a pretreatment tracheotomy should be avoided in T3 transglottic obstructive lesions. In patients with these lesions and a subglottic extension ≤ 3 cm we recommend an emergency total laryngectomy when possible to increase survival and decrease surgical morbidity. Received: 1 April 1998 / Accepted 29 June 1998     

Histopathological studies on glottic cancer by serial sections

In 31 glottic cancer specimens from partial laryngectomy, the histopathological findings were compared with vocal cord motility and 5-year survival rate. Among the 31 cases, 7 had ventricular involvements, in which 3 were transglottic tumors; 2 had had their framework destroyed. Eight cases had anterior commissure involvement. Only one had the tendon affected. Of 20 cases with mobile cords, the lesions were entirely superficial to the conus elasticus. Only a few specimens showed minimal invasions of the arytenoid region. Of 8 cases with limited vocal cord motility, invasion of the thyroarytenoid muscle was quite apparent, 4 specimens had the arytenoid areas surrounded by nests of tumor cells, and one case had local recurrence 12 months after operation. There were 3 cases with vocal cord fixation, 2 with subglottic extensions showed cricoid cartilage involvement and had had recurrences 10 and 12 months after operation. Another one with transglottic lesion was controlled by middle portion subtotal laryngectomy. Nine cases had subglottic involvement. One with transglottic lesion had recurrence, the other with arytenoid invasion had local recurrence. In two more recurrent cases, tumors cells spreaded submucosally toward the infraglottic area.     

声门下喉癌的手术治疗

目的探讨声门下喉癌手术治疗的方法及其疗效.方法对14例1989～1998年间山东医科大学附属医院(现名为山东大学齐鲁医院)耳鼻咽喉科手术治疗的声门下喉癌患者进行分析.按1997年UICC修订案分期,T1-2N0 5例,T3N0-2 3例,T4N0-1 6例.11例行喉部分切除术,3例行喉全切除术.根据病变范围不同,可扩大切除到气管或甲状腺.采用单蒂胸骨舌骨肌肌筋膜瓣、双蒂胸骨舌骨肌肌筋膜瓣、颈阔肌肌皮瓣、胸锁乳突肌骨膜瓣、甲状软骨膜瓣、会厌下移等方法重建喉功能.5例行颈清扫术.结果喉功能保留11例,占全部的78.6%.7例拔除了气管套管,拔管率为63.6%.全部14例患者均恢复吞咽功能,全组患者的3年生存率为78.6%(11/14),5年生存率为63.6%(7/11).结论多数声门下喉癌在彻底切除肿瘤的前提下保留喉功能是可行的.熟练掌握多种修复方法,择优采用,是提高喉功能保留手术水平的重要保证.     

Treatment of a thyroid neoplasm infiltrating the respiratory-digestive tracts

From 1992 to 1999, 58 thyroid gland operations (41 female and 17 male) were performed in ENT Department of the District Hospital in Rzeszów. In 14 (21.4%) cases (9 female and 5 male) thyroid surgery was done for malignant disorders: papillary carcinoma in 11 (79%) patients, follicular carcinoma in 2 patients and medullary carcinoma in 1 patient. There were neck metastases in 9/14 (64.4%) patients. In 3 cases with papillary carcinoma (all with neck metastases) aerodigestive tract was invaded. One patient had neoplasmatic invasion of the larynx and trachea, one patient had invasion of larynx et pharynx and in one patient tumour invaded the esophageal wall. In those patients radical surgery was done: total thyroidectomy with total laryngectomy and radical neck dissection (2 patients) and subtotal thyroidectomy with conservative neck dissection (1 patient). External beam irradiation and radioactive iodine 131 treatment followed surgery. Two patients are still alive 6 years after the treatment free of disease, and 1 patient died of unrelated causes 3 months after the surgery. Symptoms, diagnostic evaluation and treatment of thyroid papillary carcinoma invading the aerodigestive tract are detailed in paper.     

Importance of routine evaluation of the thyroid gland prior to open partial laryngectomy

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence and presentation of synchronous thyroid lesions in a patient population undergoing open partial laryngectomy (OPL), and to determine whether routine preoperative evaluation of the thyroid gland prior to OPL is useful to identify synchronous thyroid lesions in order to reduce the need for reoperation in this complex patient population. DESIGN: Retrospective medical chart review. SETTING: Academic institution. PATIENTS: Sixty-seven consecutive patients with laryngeal tumors who had undergone OPL from 1996 to 2005. INTERVENTIONS: Charts of 67 consecutive patients with laryngeal tumors who underwent OPL in 1996 to 2005 have been reviewed for synchronous thyroid lesions. For all patients, reports of (1) complete preoperative examination findings, (2) inpatient course, (3) postoperative follow-up, and (4) postoperative final histopathologic findings were reviewed. For patients with synchronous thyroid lesions, reports of (1) thyroid evaluation and imaging and (2) preoperative (fine-needle aspiration), (3) intraoperative (frozen section), and (4) postoperative (final) histopathologic results for the thyroid lesions were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of synchronous thyroid lesions and laryngeal cancer in patients undergoing OPL. RESULTS: Eight (11.9%) of 67 (95% confidence interval, 5.3%-22.2%) patients with laryngeal tumors who underwent OPL had evidence of synchronous thyroid lesions. All 8 patients had squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and underwent either supracricoid or supraglottic laryngectomy. In these 8 patients, synchronous thyroid lesions were incidentally detected. Four patients had papillary thyroid carcinoma, 1 had squamous metaplasia, and 3 had follicular thyroid tissue that was negative for malignancy on final pathologic examination. In 2 patients, the thyroid lesions were detected preoperatively (prior to OPL); in another 2 patients, thyroid masses were detected intraoperatively; and in 4 patients, the thyroid disease was identified postoperatively on histopathologic examination of excised cervical lymph nodes. In 2 patients, thyroidectomy was performed as a second operation after the OPL, and 1 of them had transient vocal fold paralysis for 2 months. Thyroid ultrasonography was performed in 4 patients. In 3 patients, the ultrasonography was performed after the OPL final pathologic findings indicated the presence of metastatic thyroid disease in cervical lymph nodes. Ultrasonography revealed intrathyroidal lesions in all 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with laryngeal tumors who will be undergoing OPL might have occult synchronous thyroid lesions. Thyroid surgery in patients with previous OPL may have an increased potential for complication owing to postsurgical changes in the central neck region. Routine preoperative evaluation of the thyroid gland, especially with ultrasonography, to screen for occult synchronous thyroid lesions is recommended for all patients with laryngeal tumors who will be undergoing OPL. Eradication of any thyroid cancer detected preoperatively by fine-needle aspiration should be performed at the same time as OPL. Pros and cons of total thyroidectomy for indeterminate thyroid nodules should be discussed with this patient population.     

Local invasion by laryngeal carcinoma--the importance of focal (metaplastic) ossification within laryngeal cartilage.

Patterns of cartilage invasion by squamous carcinoma were examined in 34 consecutive laryngectomy specimens with particular reference to selective involvement of ossified cartilage. Direct infiltration of the laryngeal framework was demonstrated in 17 cases--16 (out of 17) transglottic carcinomas and in a simgle example of a combined glottic and infraglottic tumour. The susceptibility of ossified laryngeal cartilage to tumour invasion was confirmed, and morphological studies ahve clarified the underlying mechanisms. Invasion is a largely indirect process dominated by local bone destruction by osteoclasts, operating in front of the advancing tumour. One established, carcinoma cells infiltrate and erode bone alone, and the osteoclasts disappear. Reasons for the particular susceptibility of ossified laryngeal cartilage to tumour invasion are discussed and attention is drawn to the role of the tumour-associated osteoclast activating factors such as postaglandins. Therapeutic implications of cartilage invasion are noted.     

Local invasion by laryngeal carcinoma—the importance of focal (metaplastic) ossification within laryngeal cartilage

Patterns of cartilage invasion by squamous carcinoma were examined in 34 consecutive laryngectomy specimens with particular reference to selective involvement of ossified cartilage. Direct infiltration of the laryngeal framework was demonstrated in 17 cases-16 (out of 17) transglottic carcinomas and in a single example of a combined glottic and infraglottic tumour. The susceptibility of ossified laryngeal cartilage to tumour invasion was confirmed, and morphological studies have clarified the underlying mechanisms. Invasion is a largely indirect process dominated by local bone destruction by osteoclasts, operating in front of the advancing tumour. Once established, carcinoma cells infiltrate and erode bone alone, and the osteoclasts disappear. Reasons for the particular susceptibility of ossified laryngeal cartilage to tumour invasion are discussed and attention is drawn to the role of the tumour-associated osteoclast activating factors such as prostaglandins. Therapeutic implications of cartilage invasion are noted.     

扩大喉环状软骨上部分切除及喉功能重建术

目的:对扩大喉环状软骨上部分切除及喉功能重建术的手术方法、适应证及喉功能恢复情况等进行探讨。方法:2000~2005年对10例向声门前下侵犯达10~20mm的T3、T4喉癌患者施行扩大环状软骨上部分喉切除及喉功能重建术。结果:9例患者均无瘤生存并仍在随访中,1例患者术后4年颈部转移癌复发死亡。所有患者术后均恢复了正常的呼吸、吞咽及维持声门下压的功能,术后发声也令人满意。结论:只要严格掌握手术适应证,对部分向声门前下侵犯达10~20mm的喉癌患者实施治疗,该术式确实能取代全喉切除术。     

Cricotracheal resection for laryngeal invasion by thyroid carcinoma: our experience

Invasion of the laryngeal framework by thyroid carcinoma requires specific surgical techniques and carries a higher rate of complications that deserve to be highlighted. We reviewed our data from 1995 to 2012 and found six patients with laryngotracheal invasion by thyroid carcinoma. All underwent total thyroidectomy and single-stage cricotracheal resection, plus anterolateral neck dissection. Three had airway obstruction that necessitated prior endoscopic debulking. None of the patients needed a tracheotomy. There were four cases of papillary carcinoma, and two cases of undifferentiated carcinoma. One patient died of complications of the procedure (anastomotic dehiscence and tracheo-innominate artery fistula). Another died 2 months after the procedure from local recurrence and aspiration pneumonia. One case presented recurrence at 15 months, which was managed by re-excision and adjuvant radiotherapy; after 26 months of follow-up, he has no evidence of locoregional recurrence. The three other patients are alive without evidence of disease at 6, 18 and 41 months, respectively. Cricotracheal resection for subglottic invasion by thyroid carcinoma is an effective procedure, but carries significant risks of complications. This could be attributed to the devascularisation of the tracheal wall due to the simultaneous neck dissection, sacrifice of the strap muscles or of a patch of oesophageal muscle layer. We advocate a sternocleidomastoid flap to cover the anastomosis. Cricotracheal resection for subglottic invasion can be curative with good functional outcomes, even for the advanced stages of thyroid cancer. Endoscopic debulking of the airway prior to the procedure avoids tracheotomy.