Our Summary

This paper discusses a case of a 62-year-old man who had surgery to remove a type of cancer, called supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma, from his throat. He also had radiation therapy and then another surgery to reconstruct his voice box using a muscle from his chest. Later, when he had trouble swallowing and doctors were widening his esophagus, they found another growth. They removed this growth using a robot-assisted surgery and found out it was the same type of cancer, but this time it was only in the skin of the muscle they had used to rebuild his voice box. They didn’t do any more treatments and the man hasn’t had any more cancer come back in two years. The paper suggests that while it’s rare, sometimes skin cancer can occur in the tissue used for these types of reconstructive surgeries. It’s important to identify the original source of the cancer to decide on the best treatment.

FAQs

  1. What type of cancer did the 62-year-old man have?
  2. How was the patient’s voice box reconstructed after the removal of his supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma?
  3. Can skin cancer occur in the tissue used for reconstructive surgeries after laryngectomy?

Doctor’s Tip

A helpful tip that a doctor might tell a patient who has had a laryngectomy is to regularly monitor the area where the surgery was performed for any changes or abnormalities. It’s important to report any new symptoms or concerns to your healthcare provider promptly. Additionally, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, can help reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. Regular follow-up appointments with your medical team are also crucial for monitoring your overall health and addressing any potential issues early on.

Suitable For

Patients with advanced laryngeal cancer, especially those with tumors that have not responded to other treatments such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, may be recommended for a laryngectomy. Additionally, patients with recurrent laryngeal cancer or those who have severe damage to their voice box due to trauma or other conditions may also be candidates for a laryngectomy. Ultimately, the decision to undergo a laryngectomy is made on a case-by-case basis by a team of healthcare providers, including otolaryngologists, oncologists, and speech therapists.

Timeline

Before laryngectomy:

  1. Patient is diagnosed with supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma.
  2. Patient undergoes surgery to remove the cancer from the throat.
  3. Patient receives radiation therapy.
  4. Patient undergoes surgery to reconstruct the voice box using a muscle from the chest.
  5. Patient experiences trouble swallowing and undergoes esophagus widening procedure.
  6. Another growth is found in the muscle used for reconstruction.

After laryngectomy:

  1. Patient undergoes robot-assisted surgery to remove the growth.
  2. It is discovered that the growth is the same type of cancer as before.
  3. No further treatments are administered.
  4. Patient remains cancer-free for two years.

It is important for patients to undergo regular follow-up appointments and screenings to monitor for any recurrence of cancer after laryngectomy.

What to Ask Your Doctor

  1. What are the potential risks and complications associated with a laryngectomy surgery?

  2. How will my ability to speak be affected after a laryngectomy?

  3. What kind of rehabilitation or speech therapy will be necessary after the surgery?

  4. What lifestyle changes will I need to make after a laryngectomy?

  5. How will I breathe and swallow differently after a laryngectomy?

  6. Are there any long-term side effects or complications I should be aware of?

  7. How often will I need follow-up appointments and monitoring after the surgery?

  8. What are the signs and symptoms of a possible recurrence of cancer in the reconstructed tissue?

  9. Are there any specific dietary restrictions I should follow post-surgery?

  10. What support services or resources are available for laryngectomy patients?

Reference

Authors: Amin SN, Shinn JR, Tang A, Lewis JS Jr, Mannion K. Journal: Head Neck Pathol. 2019 Dec;13(4):643-647. doi: 10.1007/s12105-019-01029-x. Epub 2019 Mar 19. PMID: 30888639