LARYNGECTOMY: FROM STRIDOR TO SURVIVAL- OUR EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Laryngeal cancer is among the commonest cancers in the body. It constitutes one fifth of all head and neck cancers. India accounts for 17% of the world burden. Even though it is curable in early stages, majority of them in India present in the later stages due to ignorance and poverty. The mainstay of treatment in advanced cases is total laryngectomy, with or without post operative radiotherapy which results in loss of voice. However, by speech rehabilitation and by modification of the technique in the form of near total laryngectomy, these patients can be assured of good quality disease free survival.