Use of the 445-nm Blue Laser for Management of Early Glottic Carcinoma: Preliminary 1-Year Results.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze oncological efficacy and voice outcomes of the 445-nm blue laser (BL) in the treatment of early glottic carcinoma and compare results with the 532-nm potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser.

STUDY

DESIGN

Single institution, retrospective chart review.

METHODS

All patients who underwent microlaryngoscopic KTP or BL laser excision of early glottic carcinoma from 2018 to the present day with at least 1-year follow-up were included. Primary and recurrent disease, including radiation and surgical failures, were included. Demographic data, voice outcomes and oncologic outcomes were compared between the two laser groups.

RESULTS

Forty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria for the BL group and 88 for the KTP group, with average follow-up of 635 and 1236 days, respectively. Oncologic outcomes were not significantly different, with disease-specific survival rates of 95.9% for BL and 100% for KTP (p = 0.13), organ preservation rates of 98.0% for BL and 95.6% for KTP (p = 0.39), and local control rates of 93.9% for BL and 92.1% for KTP (p = 0.81). Both BL and KTP groups showed significant improvement in CAPE-V (p = 0.04, 0.006 respectively) and VHI-10 scores (p = 0.003, <0.00001) following surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Photoangiolytic removal of early glottic carcinoma with BL appears to be equally safe and effective as with KTP laser at minimum one-year follow-up, and with excellent voice outcomes. Additional study will be warranted over time to assess long-term outcomes in BL patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:4656-4660, 2024.