The Journal of Laryngology, Rhinology, and Otology Volume 21 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 Excerpt: ... Summary. Of my 49 cases of malignant laryngeal disease, 29 were deemed unfit for operation, 20 were radically operated, making 15 thyrotomies and 8 laryngectomies, 3 patients undergoing both operations. There were no deaths within thirty days of operation. Of the 15 thyrotomies 1 was alive and free from recurrence after six years, 1 four years, 2 three years, 1 two years, and 1 three months 2 died of general diseases, and 4 were lost track of after about one year, and 3 died of recurrence, in spite of subsequent laryngectomy. Omitting the recent case, of 14 thyrotomies 11 (78 per cent.) were well at the end of one year, relatively cured. Of 8 laryngectomies 3 were hemilaryngectomies, followed by recurrence and the total operation. (Three other hemilaryngectomies without recurrence were included under "thyrotomy.") Of the 8 laryngectomies 1 lived seven years, dying of " cancer of the stomach" (details unknown); 1 lived three years without recurrence, dying of cerebral haemorrhage, and 1 eight months, dying of alcoholism; 3 cases had recurrence within a year, 1 apparent cure was lost to observation after one year, and 1 is too recent (3 months) to record. Omitting the recent case, there were 3 (42 per cent.) apparent cures well at the end of one year out of 7 cases, but no absolute cures of malignancy. On what would be the efficiency of laryngectomy, if done in intrinsic disease of limited extent, my work throws no light, as my laryngectomies were all for extrinsic disease. Conclusions. (1) Thyrotomy is the operation of election for early intrinsic laryngeal malignant disease. Until a therapeutic cure shall have been discovered, surgery cannot hope for better results than this operation yields, if done only in intrinsic disease of very limited extent. (2) L...