Pitfalls in the surgical management of cancer larynx and hypopharynx

ABSTRACT

One hundred and eighty patients presented with cancer of the larynx and hypopharynx form the basis of this report. Positive margins were found in 12.2% [22/180] of all cases, 12.5% [8/64] of supraglottic tumors, 16% [4/26] of tronsglottic tumors, 5.3% [2/38] of glottic tumors, 11.1% [2/18] of pyriform fossa tumor, 50% [3/6] of posterior pharyngeal wall tumors, and 10.6% [3/29] of postcricoid tumors. The relationship between the inadequate surgical margins of the specimens, tumor spread, the preoperative computerized tomography [CT] findings, and the surgical procedure performed have been correlated