Histopathology of Early Laryngeal Carcinoma

Abstract

To be amenable for conservative laryngeal surgery the malignancies contained within this anatomic structure must be limited in size and in extent of growth. In a relative sense this is equivalent to an early stage of the cancer. In absolute terms the duration of the tumor may represent months or even years. Most “small” and “early” laryngeal carcinomas are discovered at an early stage of their evolution because they produce symptoms. Hoarseness is the hallmark symptom of laryngeal cancer and in particular those of the vocal cords. Therefore, the remainder of this discussion is directed at early cancer of the true vocal cords. This group of tumors is representative of those that are most acceptable for conservation surgery.