Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the false vocal cord.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the false vocal cord may arise on the surface mucosa or may arise beneath it and continue to grow deeply, presenting only a smooth tumescence of the area. These lesions may not cause hoarseness until late in the course of development. Diagnosis of submucosal primary lesions may present difficulty. Widefield laryngectomy is recommended for small primary lesions of the surface mucosa of the false vocal cord. Such lesions do not show edema of the tissues or deep ulceration and do not cause limitation of motion of the false or true vocal cords. For advanced lesions of the false vocal cord which arise on the surface mucosa and cause edema, ulceration and limitation of motion without enlargement of cervical nodes, widefield laryngectomy and elective block dissection of the neck should be done at the primary operation. Patients with such a primary lesion and metastasis to cervical lymph nodes, which are resectable, should be treated in a like manner.Patients with submucosal primary squamous cell carcinoma of the false vocal cord should be treated with widefield laryngectomy and block dissection of the neck, whether or not palpable resectable lymph nodes are noted in the neck. Apparently these lesions metastasize early and widely.