title: Tumor clearance at resection margins in total laryngectomy. A clinicopathologic study.
abstract: The specimens from total laryngectomy performed in 70 patients were studied using the step-serial whole organ sectioning technique. Transverse histologic sections were taken and examined for minimum tumor clearance. The clinical status of patients for at least 4 years of observation was correlated with microscopic clearance of margins. The actual presence of tumor at the margins of resection was found in 21 (30%) of the specimens. The tumor was found to reach within 1 mm, 2 mm, and more than 2 mm from the margins in nine (13%), four (6%), and 36 (51%) specimens, respectively. The anterolateral margin was most commonly involved (19%), followed by the posterolateral (11%), postcricoid (7%), and upper (1.4%) margins. Local recurrence was found to be related to degree of clearance as 10 of 21 (48%) patients with no clearance and one of nine (11%) with 1 mm clearance had local failure. None of the patients with 2 mm clearance or more developed local recurrence. It is concluded that step-serial whole organ sectioning is an adequate method for thoroughly examining resection margins in laryngectomy specimens.
authors: Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital.
authors: K H
authors: KH
authors: Lam
authors: W F
authors: WF
authors: Lau
authors: W I
authors: WI
authors: Wei
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors