Objective: To evaluate the adequacy of horizontal-vertical partial laryngectomy in the treatment of advanced laryngeal cancer.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 57 patients with advanced laryngeal cancer (T3 or T4 on the primary site) treated by horizontal-vertical hemilaryngectomy. Fifty-six patients underwent neck dissections.
Results: The overall 3- and 5-year survival rates were 70% (40/57) and 64% (32/50), respectively. All patients had good phonation and resumed mouth-feeding after surgery. Among all the deaths, 4 died of recurrence of laryngeal cancer, 4 cervical metastasis, 4 distant metastasis, 2 intercurrent disease and 3 unknown. Of 36 patients with N0 neck, fifteen cases (15/36, 41.6%) had lymph node metastases pathologically.
Conclusion: Horizontal-vertical hemilaryngectomy is satisfactory for the treatment of selected advanced laryngeal cancers. It also preserves laryngeal functions in most cases.