A 55-year-old male smoker presents with progressive hoarseness for 8 months. Laryngoscopy shows a lesion limited to one true vocal cord with normal cord mobility. Biopsy confirms squamous cell carcinoma. According to TNM staging, this is:
- A T1b
- B T2
- C T1a ✓
- D T3
Correct answer: C. T1a
Explanation
Glottic carcinoma confined to one true vocal cord with normal cord mobility is classified as T1a. T1b involves both vocal cords, T2 involves supraglottis or subglottis or impaired mobility, and T3 involves fixation of the cord or paraglottic space. T1a glottic carcinoma has the best prognosis (>90% cure) among all head and neck cancers because the glottis has sparse lymphatics.
Reference: Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.