Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has an excellent prognosis. Although rare, PTC invasion into the upper aerodigestive tract can adversely affect patient prognosis and quality of life. This study investigated the impact of tumor excision on the prognosis and postoperative status of patients with PTC invasion of the larynx.
Methods: Data on PTC patients who underwent surgery at the author's institution between April 1981 and March 2010 were retrospectively reviewed, and 55 patients with thyroid cartilage invasion were enrolled. Curative resection was performed for all patients, and laryngeal function was preserved or reconstructed when possible.
Results: Of the 55 patients, 40 and 15 patients had superficial and intraluminal invasion of the larynx, respectively. The 10-year disease-specific survival rates were 81.0% and 61.4% in patients who underwent surgery for superficial and intraluminal invasion of the larynx, respectively. Only two patients (3.6%) had an isolated locoregional recurrence in the larynx. Four patients (7.3%) underwent total laryngectomy during the initial surgery or surgery for laryngeal recurrence. Permanent stoma remained in 26 patients (47%): 14 with laryngeal invasion, and 12 with invasion of other aerodigestive structures. The number of invaded aerodigestive structures including the larynx was correlated with the presence of permanent stoma.
Conclusions: In many patients, PTC invasion of the larynx remained at the thyroid cartilage or paraglottic space. Most patients did not require total laryngectomy. Good locoregional control was achieved with surgical tumor excision in patients with laryngeal invasion. Distant metastases were the major cause of death in patients with PTC invasion of the larynx.