Role of thyroidectomy in advanced laryngeal and pharyngolaryngeal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Total thyroidectomy (TThy) or hemithyroidectomy (HThy) in conjunction with a total laryngectomy (TL) or pharyngolaryngectomy (PL) for laryngeal carcinoma often results in hypothyroidism requiring life-long thyroid hormone replacement. The aims were to determine the incidence of thyroid gland (TG) invasion in patients undergoing TL or TPL with TThy or HThy for laryngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma and to assess predicative factors.


METHODS
Case series with chart review.


METHODS
Guy's Hospital, London, UK.


METHODS
Thirty-five patients from 2004 to 2008 were reviewed. Specimens were examined to determine the incidence of TG invasion and predicative factors. Preoperative imaging was reviewed to assess the radiological evidence of TG invasion.


RESULTS
TL and TThy were performed in 19 patients, TL and HThy in three patients, and PL and TThy in 13 patients. Surgery was performed for primary and recurrent carcinoma in 28 and eight patients, respectively. Histological evidence of invasion of the TG was found in three patients (8.5%). No significant relationship was found between TG invasion and patient's sex, subsite of primary carcinoma, stage of primary disease at surgery, degree of differentiation, or the presence of subglottic extension. In addition, no significant relationship was found between the presence of TG invasion and recurrent disease. Definite evidence of radiological invasion of the TG was seen in only one patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Invasion of the TG in patients undergoing TL or TPL is a rare event and limits the need for TThy in most cases.
Elliott
Michael S
MS
Department of Otolaryngology, Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. mselliott01@gmail.com
Odell
Edward W
EW
Tysome
James R
JR
Connor
Steve E J
SE
Siddiqui
Ata
A
Jeannon
Jean-Pierre
JP
Simo
Ricard
R
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed