To identify the prognostic significance of specific lymph node related characteristics for disease persistence and recurrence in patients with pre- or intra-operative evidence of neck metastases and no other risk factors.

Sixty-eight patients were identified; 50 per cent had persistent or recurrent disease. All underwent the same treatment strategy. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the patient- or tumour-related parameters when patients with and without persistence or recurrence were compared. Patients with recurrent or persistent disease had significantly larger (>3 cm) metastatic lymph nodes, but there were no differences regarding other lymph node related parameters (i.e. number, extracapsular extension, number of lymph nodes with extracapsular extension, and central vs lateral neck location). On multivariate analysis, however, none of the parameters were predictive of persistent or recurrent disease.

In papillary thyroid carcinoma patients with no other risk factors, pre- or intra-operative evidence of cervical metastases was associated with a very high rate of disease persistence or recurrence. Specific lymph node characteristics were not shown to have prognostic significance.

Verrucous carcinoma occurs infrequently in the vocal folds. This tumour has an excellent prognosis with proper treatment. Management strategies include surgery, radiotherapy or both.

To evaluate the long-term results of type I and II laser cordectomy for the treatment of verrucous carcinoma of the vocal folds.

We reviewed the files of 18 patients with verrucous carcinoma of the vocal folds treated by type I or II laser cordectomy in our department from 1989 to 2006, and recorded clinical and outcome data.

None of the patients had any major post-operative complications. All had a subjectively satisfactory quality of voice, with no morbidity. Patient follow up ranged from three to 228 months (mean, 48 months). Five patients were treated with post-operative radiotherapy for persistent disease, of whom four underwent repeated surgery due to recurrence.

Type I or II laser cordectomy is a safe, feasible, secure method of treating verrucous carcinoma of the vocal folds. There were no major complications in our patient series. Most recurrent disease was manageable locally with repeated surgery.

The management of advanced laryngeal cancer has evolved in the last century, from total laryngectomy to chemoradiation. The aim of this study was to examine our experience with supracricoid partial laryngectomy as a possible solution for patients with advanced laryngeal tumours, with a focus on the oncological safety of the procedure and the functionality of the preserved larynges.

We reviewed the medical records of patients with laryngeal cancer who had undergone primary or salvage supracricoid partial laryngectomy at our department between 1998 and 2004.

Twenty-three patients treated with supracricoid partial laryngectomy for endolaryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were identified. Median follow-up time was 35 months. Twelve patients had advanced laryngeal tumours. Eight patients were radiation failures. These factors were not associated with increased local recurrence or with decreased survival.

Supracricoid partial laryngectomy appears to be a feasible option for the treatment of laryngeal tumours, even in the advanced stage or after failure of radiation therapy.