Management of primary T1-T4 glottic squamous cell carcinoma by transoral laser microsurgery

Abstract

Objectives/hypothesis: Evaluate the oncologic outcomes of patients with early and select advanced primary glottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa) managed by transoral laser microsurgery (TLM).

Study design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: Ninety cases of TLM-managed primary glottic SCCa were identified retrospectively using a prospectively collected database.

Results: Outcomes of patients with pTis-pT2a disease (n = 65) and pT2b-pT4a disease (n = 25) were, respectively: 5-year local control, 86.2% and 67.5%; 5-year disease-free survival, 64.9% and 44.9%; 5-year disease-specific survival, 96.4% and 59.0%; laryngeal preservation, 96.9% and 80%. Five of nine patients (56%) with supraglottic-glottic-subglottic tumors were local recurrence-free compared to the 70 of 81 (86%) patients with glottic, supraglottic-glottic, and glottic-subglottic tumors. Seven of 13 patients (54%) with positive or indeterminate margins were local recurrence-free compared to 68 of 77 (88%) patients with negative margins.

Conclusions: Given sample size considerations, this study highlights the satisfactory oncologic outcomes of TLM-treated glottic cancer and the potential importance of margin management and disease extension within the larynx.

Level of evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 127:597-604, 2017.

Keywords: Larynx; early glottic cancer; head and neck; laryngology.