Hemilaryngectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx with fixed cord

This retrospective clinicopathologic study is to determine whether true vocal cord fixation produced by epidermoid carcinoma of larynx is an absolute contraindication of treatment by hemilaryngectomy. Serial sections of 19 hemilaryngectomy specimens were re-examined and clinical records of each patient reviewed. The microscopic view revealed that true vocal cord fixation was caused by the vocalis muscle invasion in 16 of the 19 patients. "Positive margins" concerned with recurrences were present in 4 cases. There were 3 local recurrences. The five-year survival rate in the series demonstrates a 68 percent (13/19) determinant survival rate and a 76 percent (13/17) actual survival rate. The results suggest that careful attention to the exact anatomical extent of the tumor should determine its surgical resectability. True vocal cord fixation itself should not exclude the possibility for total laryngectomy.