The glottic–subglottic laryngectomy: Surgical technique, oncological, and functional outcomes

Objectives The aim of this article was to describe the surgical technique and report the oncological and functional outcomes of the partial glottic-subglottic laryngectomy (GSL). Methods A retrospective review of the clinical charts of patients who underwent GSL for laryngeal cancer from 1989 to 2020 at the Otolaryngology Unit of the Vittorio Veneto Hospital, a referral center for laryngeal cancer treatment. Results The present article considered 36 patients who were submitted to GSL for laryngeal cancer. The pathological exam found squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in 16 cases, adenoid-cystic carcinoma (ACC) in 9 cases, laryngeal chondrosarcoma in 8 cases, 1 giant cell carcinoma, 1 carcinosarcoma, and 1 metastasis of colon adenocarcinoma. Considering the 16 SCC cases we observed a recurrence rate of 31%, the overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were 75%. The 9 ACC cases had a recurrence rate of 23% and OS/DSS of 88%. In the 8 chondrosarcomas no relapses were reported and the OS/DSS were 100%. Among the patients without recurrence of the disease, a definitive decannulation was achieved in 21 cases (75%). Conclusions The GSL represents a valid alternative to total laryngectomy in selected cases of laryngeal cancer involving the glottic and subglottic regions.