One thousand laryngectomies performed at the Novi Sad University ENT clinic: Historical review and important data on treatment of laryngeal tumors

Abstract

The first ENT Department in Novi Sad was established in 1926. In 1960 the ENT Clinic became a part of the Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad and treatment of malignant disease started in 1973 at the Laryngology Department. SURGICAL TREATMENT OF MALIGNANT LARYNGEAL TUMORS: Treatment of laryngeal cancers in Novi Sad started in 1960's. Until 1971, the treatment of choice was radiotherapy, and surgical treatment started in 1971, when the first laryngectomy was performed After the first surgery, 31 years have passed until we have reached the number of one thousand performed laryngectomies at ENT Clinic in Novi Sad. 1971-1988: During this period, 138 laryngectomies were performed at ENT Clinic. Total laryngectomies were done as salvage surgeries in 136 cases, and 2 patients underwent functional partial laryngectomies. Direct laryngomicroscopy was introduced by Zivko Majdevac in 1972. Oncology consilium was founded. 1990-2002: New protocol was adopted. Surgery became the primary treatment of laryngeal carcinoma, while radiotherapy remained a valid therapeutic alternative. All known surgical techniques were introduced, including Pearson's near-total laryngectomy. In this period 834 patients were operated, and 873 laryngectomies were performed, out of which 388 total laryngectomies. Year after year the number of patients increased and in 2002, 90 laryngectomies were performed. The number of functional reconstructive operations has increased to 67.8% in comparison to 32.2 % of total laryngectomies.