CANCER OF THE LARYNX

Abstract

Since 1844, when Ehrmann made the first surgical effort to cure cancer of the larynx, an ever increasing mass of statistics has accumulated. The earlier of these are historically interesting, but add little to the subject. They were based on no clear conception of what surgery might be expected to accomplish, since they failed entirely to distinguish between incipient and advanced disease. Great credit, however, must be given to these pioneers whose failures, stimulating renewed efforts in those coming after them, laid the foundation of our present better understanding and greater success. For many years, incipient cancer went unobserved, and to this, perhaps more than to a defective surgical technic, may be attributed the universal failure to cure. Not until 1876 was one cure reported, which was the ultimate gain in twelve laryngectomies. From 1876 to 1886, one hundred and eight laryngectomies resulted in twenty-one cures. From 1886 to