Surgical management of thyroid carcinoma with laryngotracheal invasion.

Thyroid carcinoma that invades the airway can, in most cases, be treated by partial laryngectomy or partial tracheal resection. Total laryngectomy or circumferential tracheal reconstruction may be required in patients with extensive disease. Closure of subglottic and tracheal defects can be accomplished with the sternocleidomastoid myoperiosteal flap in a simple, single-staged procedure. Patterns of invasion and appropriate reconstruction are described.