Review

Organ preservation surgery for laryngeal cancer

Sharad Chawla^* and Andrew S Carney

• * Corresponding author: Sharad Chawla sharadch@yahoo.com

Author Affiliations

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia, Australia

For all author emails, please log on.

Head & Neck Oncology 2009, 1:12 doi:10.1186/1758-3284-1-12

Published: 15 May 2009

Abstract

The principles of management of the laryngeal cancer have evolved over the recent past with emphasis on organ preservation. These developments have paralleled technological advancements as well as refinement in the surgical technique. The surgeons are able to maintain physiological functions of larynx namely speech, respiration and swallowing without compromising the loco-regional control of cancer in comparison to the more radical treatment modalities. A large number of organ preservation surgeries are available to the surgeon; however, careful assessment of the stage of the cancer and selection of the patient is paramount to a successful outcome. A comprehensive review of various organ preservation techniques in vogue for the management of laryngeal cancer is presented.