Sclerosis of the arytenoid cartilage and glottic carcinoma: A clinical-pathological study
Abstract
Background
Given the relevance of any tumor invasion of the arytenoid cartilage or crico-arytenoid unit to the planning open partial horizontal laryngectomy (OPHL) for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), it is important to have a reliable radiological test to assess impairments of these structures.
Methods
We retrospectively compared the endoscopic, radiological, and pathological findings in patients with glottic LSCC who underwent OPHL.
Results
The endoscopic finding of a reduced (impaired or absent) vocal cord motility proved more sensitive, with better positive and negative predictive values, but less specific than the radiological finding of complete arytenoid sclerosis in detecting histologically assessable infiltration of the arytenoid cartilage.
Conclusions
Endoscopy retains a key role in the preoperative workup for glottic LSCC. CT evidence of complete sclerosis of the arytenoid cartilage is related to a dangerous contiguity of the tumor to the cartilage.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Conflict of interest declared: none.
