Sublaryngeal cancer of the trachea

A 42-year-old woman was referred for a sublaryngeal tracheal stenosis after examination with CT and flexible bronchoscopy because of persistent wheezing. A biopsy sample showed an epidermoid carcinoma whose upper margin was 2 cm below the vocal cords. By the use of classic technique, we undertook a tracheal resection (figures a and b: three cartilage rings were resected, the arrows indicate recurrent nerves) and laryngotracheal anastomosis (figure c) on tumour-free resection margins (frozen section). Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged 7 days after the operation. This type of operation is seldom used for such a highly located tracheal cancer because tracheal resection can often be accompanied by total laryngectomy. To the best of our knowledge, this technique has been described by artwork drawings only.