The role of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in planning for conservation laryngeal surgery.

Refined laryngeal conservation surgeries have been devised to maintain the voice while eradicating even extensive glottic and hypopharyngeal tumors. The role of diagnostic imaging is to adequately define the extent of disease in conjunction with endoscopy. Critical areas to be evaluated are the tongue base, vallecula, pre-epiglottic space, arytenoid cartilages, postcricoid region, hypopharynx, thyroid cartilage, and subglottis.