Repeated transoral laser microsurgery for early and advanced recurrence of early glottic cancer after primary laser resection

Abstract

Objectives: To analyze the oncological results of repeated transoral laser microresection (TLM) in case of failure after primary laser resection of early glottic cancer (pTis-pT2).

Methods: Fifty-six patients with local or loco-regional recurrence of early glottic cancer were treated between 1988 and 2005 by repeated TLM followed, if necessary, by neck dissection and/or adjuvant radio- or radiochemotherapy. Data on overall survival, disease-specific survival, and loco-regional control rates were analyzed retrospectively and calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: Forty-four patients (78.6%) presented with early local recurrence (rTis-rT2N0; Stage I/II) and 12 patients (21.4%) had advanced local or loco-regional recurrence (pT3 and pT4N0/N+; Stage III/IV). Three- and five-year overall survival rates for patients with early and advanced recurrence were 75.1% vs. 51.6% and 61.6% vs. 25.8%, respectively. The corresponding three- and five-year disease-specific survival rates were 87.2% vs. 85.7% and 81.0% vs. 85.7%, respectively. Three- and five-year loco-regional control was significantly higher for patients treated for early recurrence (67.6% vs. 27.5% and 63.6% vs. 27.5%, respectively; p=0.02). Salvage laryngectomy rates for patients with early and advanced recurrence were 9.1 and 25.0%, respectively. In patients with early local recurrence, anterior commissure involvement (n=11) did not affect the oncological results.

Conclusions: In case of early local recurrence after primary TLM of early glottic cancer, further TLM seems to be justified as an organ-preserving treatment option. In contrast, salvage laryngectomy should be considered early for patients with advanced local or loco-regional recurrence.