CO2 laser surgery of supraglottic carcinoma: our experience over 6 years

Abstract

Introduction and objectivesThe study goal was to analyse the oncologic and functional outcomes of transoral laser microsurgery in the treatment of carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx. Material and methodsA total of 53 patients were included in this retrospective review between 2000 and 2006. The follow-up period was more than 2 years and the mean follow-up for all patients was 49 months. ResultsTumour extension was as follows: T1 in 12 (22.6%), T2 in 37 (69.8%), and T3 in 4 (7.5%). Forty-seven patients (88.7%) had neck dissections. Nineteen patients (35.8%) received adjuvant radiotherapy. Kaplan-Meier estimates for disease-specific survival were 80%, 74.11%, and 65%, at 2, 3 and 5 years, respectively. The overall functional laryngeal preservation rate was 90.56% (48 of 53), and local control 81.13%. During follow up, 13.2% of patients developed local recurrence, 11.3% regional recurrence, and 5.7% loco-regional recurrence. Patients started swallowing early after surgery, with a mean time of 5.83 days, and the mean hospital stay was 14.69 days. Complications included 20.75% who suffered pneumonia and 11.32% with bleeding. Only one patient (1.88%) received total laryngectomy due to the impossibility of swallowing. ConclusionsWith careful selection of patients, laser supraglottic laryngectomy is a safe and effective treatment for cancer of the supraglottic larynx.