Evaluation of available surgical management options for early supraglottic cancer

Abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the oncologic results of endoscopic and open surgical techniques in early supraglottic cancer. We performed a retrospective evaluation of 101 patients surgically treated for stage I or II supraglottic carcinomas. Laser surgery, horizontal laryngectomy, and total laryngectomy were compared for disease-specific survival and local control rates. Surgical techniques were additionally compared for incidence of major complications, related tracheotomies, and swallowing function retention. No statistically significant differences were noted among the different types of procedures regarding disease-specific survival and local control. A lower incidence of major complications, permanent gastrostomies, and significantly lower incidence of tracheotomies were noted for laser surgery compared with open techniques. Larynx-preserving surgical modalities offer comparable oncologic results with total laryngectomy in early supraglottic cancer. In addition, laser surgery has a lower incidence of complications and better functional results compared with open partial or total laryngectomy.