OBJECTIVETo study the long-term follow-up result of partial laryngectomy and reservation of laryngeal function.

METHODSFive hundred and fifty-nine patients who underwent partial laryngectomy from 1996 to 2002 were summarized (male 435 cases, female 124 cases). Among them, 200 cases were supraglottic carcinomas (classified accordingly by UICC standard of years 2002 into: 15 cases of I, 81 cases of II, 72 cases of III, and 32 cases of IV), 354 cases were glottic carcinomas (141 cases of I, 124 cases of II, 88 cases of III, and 1 cases of IV), 5 cases were transglottic carcinomas (2 cases of II and 3 cases of III). In common 7 kinds of operations were performed: 66 cases underwent cordectomy, 119 vertical laryngectomy, 62 horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy, 113 horizontovertical (3/4) laryngectomy, 88 subtotal laryngectomy with cricoglossoepiglottic anastomosis, 26 near total laryngectomy with cricoglossal anastomosis (with reservation of unilateral arytenoid cartilage), 85 laser laryngectomy. Two hundred and sixty-one cases underwent concurrent neck dissection (174 unilateral, 87 bilateral). Safety margin of less than or equal to 5 mm was suspected of having residual lymph node metastasis, the postoperative radiation therapy to treatment.

RESULTSAll cases restored their phonation and overcame aspiration with removing nasal feeding from 7 to 24 days after operations. Four hundred and sixty-six cases were decannulated from 9 days to 3 months after operations. Decannulation rate was 98.3%. Through periodic review of out-patient clinics or telephone follow-up, family members follow-up a variety of ways, three, five or ten years follow-up rate: 99.6% (557/559), 98.2% (549/559), 95.8% (183/191), dollars lost to death. The three years survival rates were 89.6% (501/559). Among them, the survival rates for supraglottic carcinoma patients of stage I and II was 90.6%, stage III and IV 81.7%, for glottic carcinoma patient of stage I and II was 95.2%, stage III and IV 82.4%. The five years survival rates were 75.0% (419/559). Among them, the survival rates for supraglottic carcinoma patients of stage I and II was 75.0%, stage III and IV 62.5%, for glottic carcinoma patient of stage I and II was 81.8%, stage III and IV 70.6%. The ten year survival rates were 71.2% (136/191). Among them, the survival rates for supraglottic carcinoma patients of stage I and II was 69.7%, stage III and IV 65.2%, for glottic carcinoma patient of stage I and II was 77.6%, stage III and IV 72.1%.

CONCLUSIONSPartial laryngectomy is a kind of radical operation with reservation of laryngeal function. Qualities of life and curative effect, were greatly improved.