Objective: To study the causes of recurrence of patients with glottic cancer after partial laryngectomy and to propose some possible measures for the prevention of glottic cancer postoperative recurrence.
Method: A retrospective review of consecutive 46 patients with recurrent glottic cancer after partial laryngectomy was conducted. The sites of primary tumors, the ways of operations and the sites of tumor recurrence were investigated.
Result: Among 46 patients diagnosed with glottic cancer recurrence after partial laryngectomy, 32 cases were local recurrences and 14 were regional metastasis or local-regional recurrences. 13 cases of the second primary lesions in larynx were the cause of the failure and occupied 40.6% of all cases of local recurrences (13/32). In the regional metastasis, the commonest recurrent site was encountered in the upper neck. The upper neck metastasis or local recurrences were common in local recurrent cases treated by salvage surgery.
Conclusion: It is very important for the prevention of glottic cancer recurrence after partial laryngectomy to properly manage the upper cervical lymph node in the advanced glottic cancers and the local recurrences in larynx and to know the relation of the postoperative recurrence of glottic cancer and the second primary lesions in larynx and carry out corresponding management.