OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of radiotherapy in the combined treatment of laryngeal cancer with partial laryngectomy. METHODS One hundred and seventy-one cases of laryngeal cancer were randomly separated into three groups of partial laryngectomy, partial laryngectomy with preoperative radiotherapy (dose 40-50Gy) and partial laryngectomy with postoperative radiotherapy(dose 51-70 Gy). The surgical procedures included cordectomy, vertical partial laryngectomy, horizontal partial laryngectomy and near total laryngectomy. RESULTS The overall 5-year survival rate was 82% (123/150). The 5-year survival rates for surgery alone group (56 cases), surgery with preoperative radiotherapy group(65 cases) and surgery with postoperative radiotherapy group(50 cases) were 85.7%, 80.7% and 79.5% respectively. There was no significant difference among the groups(chi 2 = 0.703, P = 0.704). Analysis of survival rates revealed a significant difference among the different stages(chi 2 = 12.248, P = 0.007). All 171 cases except 3 that had near total laryngectomy achieved satisfactory phonation. CONCLUSIONS Neither preoperative radiotherapy nor postoperative radiotherapy can improve the 5-year survival rate of laryngeal cancer with partial laryngectomy. All patients with partial laryngectomy got satisfactory phonation.