Transoral laser microsurgery for recurrence after primary radiotherapy of early glottic cancer

Abstract

Objective: To analyze oncological results of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) on recurrent early glottic cancer after primary radiotherapy.

Methods: The records of 53 patients treated by TLM for early (rTis-rT2) and advanced (rT3, rT4) recurrence after curative radiotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. Data on loco-regional control, overall survival, and disease specific survival were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The larynx preservation rates were given absolutely.

Results: Mean post-therapeutic follow-up time after TLM for patients alive was 87.9 months. Twenty-two patients (42%) were cured by the first TLM procedure, but one of them underwent total laryngectomy after TLM due to chondronecrosis without evidence of residual tumor. Thirty-one patients (58%) developed another recurrence after TLM. Ten of them were cured by further laser procedures alone. Therefore, in 31 patients (58%), local recurrences were successfully treated by TLM alone. In 20 patients, recurrences could not be controlled by TLM: 14 patients underwent salvage laryngectomy and six palliative treatment. Three- and five-year loco-regional control rates for all patients were 46.1 and 38.8%. Three- and five-year overall survival rates were 67.5 and 53.3%. The corresponding 3- and 5-year disease specific survival rates were 68.6%, each. There was no statistically significant difference in loco-regional control or survival between patients presenting initially with early and advanced recurrence. Further recurrence after the first TLM procedure was associated with a statistically significant decrease in 3- and 5-year overall (56.6% vs. 81.8% and 40.2% vs. 70.5%; p=0.03) and disease specific (48.9% vs. 100%, each; p=0.001) survival. Ultimate local control rate including repeated TLM and salvage laryngectomy was 77.4%.

Conclusions: Many patients with recurrent glottic carcinoma after primary radiotherapy can be cured by single or repeated TLM as an organ-preserving procedure. However, in case of failure after TLM for the first recurrence, salvage laryngectomy should be considered early as local control by further laser surgery is unfavorable.