Computed tomography of laryngeal carcinoma correlated with histopathological findings

Since the development of conservation laryngeal surgery and the advent of computed tomography (CT) scanners, a precise preoperative evaluation of the extent of laryngeal cancer has been of prime importance. Eight patients with known carcinoma of the larynx were examined with CT of the larynx prior to surgery, and whole-mount serial sections of the extirpated larynx were compared with the corresponding level of CT sections to evaluate the reliability of CT during my study abroad in Japan from Dec. 1985 through Dec. 1986. 1. The results indicated that CT scanning accurately delineates the anatomic location and pathologic extent of the tumor three-dimensionally in all cases examined. There is also good demonstration of the anterior commissure and preepiglottic, paraglottic and subglottic spaces which are sometimes poorly seen by laryngoscopy or by any other means. 2. Determination of invasion of the laryngeal cartilage by tumor proved to be very difficult to diagnose with CT. 3. The CT images obtained while the patient is breathing quietly, coupled with additional sections at the level of the vocal cord during slight valsalva maneuver afford good visualization of laryngeal tumors. 4. It should be emphasized that a thorough pathologic examination of extirpated specimens with serial sections is essential for laryngeal surgeons, because it is impossible to determine the patient's prognosis without microscopic demonstration of the degree of invasion. (author)