Adequate indication of laryngeal suspension for subtotal glossectomy

Abstract

To correlate the indication of laryngeal suspension for patients who underwent a subtotal glossectomy, a retrospective analysis of 44 patients with previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue was reviewed. The object was classified into two types; type 1 (n = 17): the contralateral genioglossus muscle was partially resected, type 2 (n = 27): the contralateral genioglossus muscle was entirely resected. The postoperative swallowing function was evaluated with an AsR score in a first-time videofluorography. In both groups, the AsR score was not correlated with the extent of the resection of suprahyoid muscles. In type 1, laryngeal suspension did not contribute to the postoperative swallowing function. On the other hand, in type 2, the AsR score was significantly improved with laryngeal suspension in the case of the resection of hemi-suprahyoid muscles. The adequate indication of laryngeal suspension for subtotal glossectomy was the excision of the bilateral suprahyoid muscles or of the hemi-suprahyoid muscles in type 2.