Supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy conversion to Pearson's near-total laryngectomy: a case report.

Abstract

Pearson's near-total laryngectomy was initially advocated in patients with extended glottic carcinoma and hypopharyngeal carcinoma. More recently, the utility of near-total laryngectomy for supraglottic pharyngeal, base of tongue, and other cancers such as thyroid cancer with anterior tracheal wall invasion has also been reported. The purpose of this case report was to demonstrate the feasibility of this procedure in the setting of severe aspiration after supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy. The first case of successful conversion from supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy to Pearson's near-total laryngectomy in a patient with severe and recurrent aspiration is presented. This case report suggests that when partial laryngopharyngectomy results in severe and recurrent aspiration, rather than having to convert the patient to a total laryngectomy with tracheoesophageal puncture, a near-total laryngectomy is a reasonable option with acceptable functional results.