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Partial or functional surgery for cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract essentially concerns the larynx and the pharyngolaryngeal area. The aim of this surgery is to preserve voice and deglutition. Therefore fundamental anatomical structures such as the cricoid cartilage or at least one arytenoid cartilage must be spared, pointing the limitations of the techniques. Based on these principles, many authors have divided partial surgical procedures ranging from the simplest (cordectomy) to reconstruction on near-total laryngectomy. Cancers of the hypopharynx can benefit from similar techniques always founded on reconstruction by muscle and aponeurosis or by a free flap. Carcinologic results after partial surgery for cancer of upper aerodigestive tract are better than those obtained after total laryngectomy. This fact could be explained by the nature of these cancers that are limited. The carcinologic and functional success of this surgery needs a precise clinical indication and a perfect approach of the various surgical techniques.

Four hundred and thirty-two patients with a carcinoma of the true vocal cord, treated with a partial laryngectomy from 1972 through 1984, were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were staged as NO, MO. Survival and death rates were not presented. A three-year minimum follow-up was achieved in 97% of the cases. Local and cervical recurrences were presented and analyzed. Factors such as local tumor extent, impaired mobility of the true vocal cord, invasion of conus elasticus or thyroid cartilage, and positive margins of resection enhance the outcome of local and cervical recurrences. This present report underscores that thyrotomies, hemilaryngectomies, and cricohyoidoepiglottopexies should be adapted to the exact tumor location and the laryngeal mobilities. Cervical lymph node recurrence is less likely to happen if local control is achieved. The role and rationale for an associated elective ipsilateral cervical and paratracheal lymph chain dissection are presented and advocated.

The authors assessed ganglionic failure in a series of 432 cases of N0 M0 epidermoid carcinomas of the glottic floor following partial laryngeal surgery. The overall of ganglionic failure was 7.8%. This rate of failure is related to 64.7% death rate, i.e. 5.1% of the 432 patients under study. This retrospective study differentiates between primary ganglionic failure and secondary ganglionic failure. Primary ganglionic failure is the first local/regional carcinologic event to develop after treatment of any glottic lesion. Secondary ganglionic failure is related to isolated local failures. The percentage of primary ganglionic failure was 5.1%. It was responsible for deaths occurring in 54.5% of cases. The percentage of secondary ganglionic failure was 2.7% and it was responsible for deaths occurring in 83.3% of cases. Factors promoting ganglionic failure (real tumor extension, tumor infiltration, altered laryngeal mobility, local control and efficacy of retakes of local failures) are discussed. The importance of prophylactic surgical procedures guarding from ganglionic failure, such as the ipsilateral jugular-carotid and recurrent nerve approaches is emphasized. Although such procedures can be of aid in cases of T2 or T3 N0 M0 epitheliomas of the glottic floor, they present no alternative in the course of retake operations of local failures.

Many procedures are used for reconstruction of a pharyngeal gutter after circular pharyngolaryngectomy, interrupter of digestive continuity. The operation chosen was used of third part of jejunum for reconstruction, and its indications and limitations are described. The choice was based on anatomic data from dissection of 100 cadavers and values for different measurements performed (length of transplant, height of mesentery, caliber and length of vessels), and more particularly on constancy and reliability of vascularization of this digestive segment. To these advantages are added bacteriologic, technical, histologic and physiologic reasons. Results are analyzed of 11 operations carried out in the same department, from among a larger group comprising now 45 cases. Postoperative course was usually uncomplicated with rapid restoration of deglutition (a mean of 11.77 days in 9 of the 11 cases). Preoperative radiotherapy is not a contraindication and postoperative radiotherapy should be given routinely as a complement to surgery. It is usually well tolerated and transplant necrosis is not provoked. Nevertheless, the seriousness of this type of lesion is underlined by the high incidence of carcinologic failures, with an elevated risk of local and regional recurrence and of distant metastases.

Invasion of the hyothyroepiglottic (HTE) space, or pre-epiglottic space, constitutes an important element in selecting the type of therapy in cancer of the larynx (functional surgery, radiotherapy), the oropharynx and the hypopharynx. Clinical examination and standard X-ray films provide insufficient information. High frequency real time ultrasonography offers a reliable means for exploring the pre-epiglottic space, as evidenced by this study carried on 34 histologically-confirmed cases taken among 77 cases of carcinoma of the upper digestive and respiratory tracts. Advantages presented by this method over CT-scanning and MR imaging in this particular pathological are simplicity, rapidity and low cost, combined with good performance.

Of a total of 219 partial laryngectomies performed, 119 were cordectomies, 30 hemilaryngectomies and 70 supraglottic laryngectomies. Results of each type of operation are presented with emphasis on problems of local recurrences, evidence of validity of procedure selected and of its indications. Analysis of results, with the reservation that indications were sometimes wide but always reasonable, showed an extremely low incidence of recurrences, the quality of the resection (limited or insufficient) having finally little incidence on the latter, except perhaps in the supraglottic laryngectomies. It is suggested, therefore, that no attempt should be made to "recover" a histologically detected insufficient excision by complementary radiotherapy not required in principle. This assists follow up review and allows secondary therapy if an unfavorable course is noted.

On the basis of clinical impressions only, the authors had felt the carcinomas of the larynx and hypopharynx were probably graver in young subjects than in the elderly, and that age was a determinant factor in therapeutic decisions. 585 records including 216 carcinomas of the piriform fossa and 369 carcinomas of the larynx were studied over a period of 8 years. This study failed to reveal any difference related to age between populations aged less than 60 years and more than 60 years, both with regard to the prevalence of carcinomas whatever the siten the presence or absence of nodes, histological spread, loco-regional prognosis and actuarial survival. The latter parameter was studied by establishing the distribution between patients aged less than 55 and those 55 and over to obtain equivalent groups in terms of numbers. Overall, the prognosis seemed to be rather better in the younger patients, which would imply a therapeutic attitude independent of age.

Limited resection in partial surgery for carcinoma of the larynx leads to discussion of three surgical attitudes: total surgical resection as a matter of principle, additional treatment by radiotherapy, or waiting, with the need for strict surveillance. The present study reports the results of this latter attitude adopted in 23 cases out of 24 of limited resection in a group involving 119 partial laryngectomies (vertical or horizontal) consisting of: 57 cordectomies, 20 hemilaryngectomies, 42 supraglottal laryngectomies. Results of analysis show that there was no recurrence and patients were well with a 3 year follow-up in 19 cases of limited resection out of 24. Overall survival following limited resection was identical to that seen after satisfactory resection, but there was a marked difference with insufficient resection (X2 significant) Following partial laryngeal surgery involving a limit resection, it is felt to be legitimate to temporise as long as the patient can be seen regularly. Such an approach would not seem to modify the overall survival in these patients.

The significance of the absence or presence of lymphadenopathy is not the same in relation to the site of the primary tumour. This study involved 574 cases, including 213 carcinomas of the piriform fossa and 361 laryngeal carcinomas, and revealed errors of omission (No - N+) in carcinomas of the piriforme fossa (50% cases) and the possibility of errors of commission (N not equal to - N - in carcinomas of the larynx. This merely confirmed the high level of lymphatic affinity of carcinomas of the piriform fossa, but at the same time emphasised the relative reliability of the clinical assessment of relevent classifications.

The authors have studied real tumoral extension in 432 cases with N0 M0 epidermoid carcinoma of the glottic floor treated by partial laryngeal surgery over the period extending from 1972 to 1984. This retrospective study defines the limits and the errors of preoperative assessment of local extension. Clinical examination and direct suspension laryngoscopy are needed. T classification cannot be used as a sole reference in the selection of the surgical technique. The difficulties encountered in the evaluation of real tumor extension in this type of neoplasia calls for great caution on the part of the surgeon in selecting the procedure for partial laryngeal surgery. The study of the incidence of local failures in cases of real tumor extension emphasizes the need for an appropriate surgical technique for the local management of tumoral extension. The authors identify the respective place held by such techniques as thyrotomy associated with internal subperichondrial degloving and partial vertical laryngectomy with cartilage resection, and its many variants, and partial horizontal subcricoid laryngectomy (of the cricohyoepiglottopexy-type).

Inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone or Schwartz-Bartter syndrome is considered to be a paraneoplastic endocrine syndrome, most frequently associated with a small cell anaplastic carcinoma of the lung. The authors present a case of sub-glottal laryngeal carcinoma discovered several months after the onset of clinical (disturbances of conscious level) and laboratory (hyponatraemia, hypochloraemia, blood hypo-osmolarity which preservation of urinary sodium output) manifestations which form the original features of this syndrome, the criteria of which are reviewed. The y conclude by the need for complete examination, not excluding unusual sites of primary tumour.

A study of 87 cases of carcinoma of the vallecula and the epiglottis (margin and vestibulum) with the common feature of an essentially identical surgical technique: supraglottal horizontal laryngectomy. In the case of vallecular lesions (34 cases from T1 to T4) this operation, performed from below upwards with lymph node dissection and associated with postoperative radiotherapy, gave oncological results identical to those of total laryngectomy and better than those of other protocols based upon radiotherapy. From a functional standpoint, despite two deaths due to bronchopneumonia, with careful respect paid to local and general contraindications there were no prolonged problems, even if the postoperative course was somewhat longer in lesions of the epiglottis. Carcinomas of the epiglottis (53 cases) did not receive radiotherapy where resection was adequate and lymph node histology negative. The results, better than in those cases involving the vallecula, seemed to be identical to those published in the literature. Such partial surgery, with preservation of the voice, should thus be beneficial in patients suffering from such lesions, in particular when the larynx is unaffected.