Organ preservation for carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx

Treatment of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers often necessitates total laryngectomy. This article reviews approaches of curing patients with these diseases while preserving their larynxes. Strategies include radiation alo ne, neoadjuvant chemotherapy with radiation for responders, or concurrent c hemotherapy and radiation. Both retrospective experiences and randomized tr ials evaluating differing therapies in an effort to achieve voice preservat ion are reported and analyzed.