Pre- and Posttherapeutic Staging of Laryngeal Carcinoma Involving Anterior Commissure: Review of 127 Cases

Background. The objective of this study is to assess the accuracy of pre- and posttherapeutic staging of endolaryngeal cancer involving anterior commissure. Materials and Methods. 127 patients were included in this retrospective study, and laryngectomy (partial or radical) was achieved in all of them. Initial radioclinical evaluation (cT) was performed (endoscopy-CT scan) and compared with postoperative histopathological findings. Results. 24,6% of cT2 and 33,3% of cT3 laryngeal tumors were reclassified pT4 after the histopathological examination. Conclusion. pre-therapeutic staging (combining endoscopy-CT scan) of endolaryngeal cancer involving anterior commissure is inadequate and sometimes underestimates thyroid cartilaginous invasion. Nethertheless, a precise diagnostic assessment by surgery with postoperative histological findings is possible. Cartilage and/or paraglottic structures are involved, or not, on the laryngectomy specimen exam. So surgery should always be discussed in first line in transdisciplinary meeting for endolaryngeal cancer management.