Oncologic results of transoral laser microsurgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the posterior pharyngeal wall.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate oncologic outcomes of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in patients with cancer of the oropharyngeal and/or hypopharyngeal posterior wall.

METHODS

Between August 1986 and December 2006, 25 patients (oropharyngeal n = 12; hypopharyngeal n = 13) were treated by primary CO2 laser microsurgery. Treatment was exclusively TLM with or without selective neck dissection in 12 cases (48%); TLM with adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy was performed in 13 cases (52%).

RESULTS

Data were analyzed by using the Kaplan-Meier method. The median follow-up was 41.6 months. The 5-year overall, recurrence-free, and disease-specific survival rates for stages I/II were 36,5%, 60,0%, and 87,5% and for stages III/IVa 41,2%, 36,4%, and 56,3%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

With respect to local control and survival, results are comparable to conventional surgery.