Partial or total laryngectomy is reserved for persistent or recurrent disease depending on the disease itself and the condition of the patient, although could be an option in selected cases as a primary treatment. These patients often require a combination of a planned course of radiation and surgery. Many patients may be curable by radiation or surgery alone and selection of the treatment modality in each patient will require a multidisciplinary assessment. A small single node located within the radiation field may be cured by radiation alone, but larger or multiple nodes will require radical neck dissection. Surgery for persistent or recurrent disease will require radical resection of the primary and neck dissection.
Primary treatment is by radiation therapy.
Partial or total laryngectomy is reserved for persistent or recurrent disease. The initial treatment in most cases will be radiation therapy. Partial or total laryngectomy is reserved for recurrent or persistent disease. Total laryngectomy as initial management is indicated in patients with severe airway obstruction or extensive involvement of the laryngeal cartilage. However, if clinical nodal disease was or is present, radical neck dissection of the affected side is included.