Carbon dioxide laser microsurgery for early glottic carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES

To define the oncologic efficacy of transoral endoscopic CO2 laser surgery in early glottic carcinoma.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 103 patients with glottic carcinoma (14 Tis, 68 pT1a, 14 pT1b, and 7 pT2) treated from October 1993 to June 2001. Surgical treatment included endoscopic CO2 laser cordectomies according to the classification of the European Laryngological Society.

RESULTS

According to the Kaplan-Meier method, the probability of remaining free of local recurrence 5 years after primary surgery alone was 100% for the Tis, 96.05% for the T1, and 100% for the T2. Local control at 5 years after exclusive CO2 laser salvage surgery was 98.03%. The probability of remaining free of local recurrence 5 years after any type of salvage surgery was 100%. Laryngeal preservation was achieved in 100% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the present series, endoscopic CO2 laser surgery is an effective treatment for early glottic cancer.

EBM RATING: C-4.