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Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Jan;135(1):15-26.
doi: 10.1002/lary.31695. Epub 2024 Aug 14.

Survival Outcomes of Transoral Microsurgery in T3/T4a Laryngeal Tumors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Srivatsa Surya Vasudevan  1 , Adam Zulli  1 , Lindsay Olinde  1 , John Pang  1 , Cherie-Ann O Nathan  1   2 , Ameya A Asarkar  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Survival Outcomes of Transoral Microsurgery in T3/T4a Laryngeal Tumors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Srivatsa Surya Vasudevan et al. Laryngoscope. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: To critically evaluate oncological and functional outcomes following transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in patients with T3/T4a glottic and supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Data sources: A comprehensive search of five major databases-PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science-was conducted using a combination of relevant keywords and MeSH terms.

Review methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of odds ratio (OR), hazards ratio (HR), and proportion, focusing on oncological and functional outcomes of TLM in advanced T3/T4a glottic and supraglottic tumors. A random-effects meta-analysis model was employed.

Results: The review incorporated 29 cohort studies, representing a total of 1,897 patients undergoing TLM for T3/T4a glottic and supraglottic SCC. The cumulative 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate for T3 glottic and supraglottic tumors was 44.4% (95% CI: 47-66%) and 62.8% (95% CI: 63-81%), while the 5-year DFS for T4 glottic and supraglottic tumors was 41.1% (95% CI: 33.4-49.2%) and 32.9% (95% CI: 19.3-50.1%), respectively. T3 glottic tumors exhibited a 2.5-fold significantly higher odds of local recurrence post-TLM compared to their T3 supraglottic tumors (95% CI: 1.6-3.9, p < 0.0001). Laryngeal preservation rates for T3glottic and supraglottic tumors were 68.9% (95% CI: 48.7-83.8%) and 88.4% (95% CI: 79.4-93.8%), respectively. Both groups showed comparable rates of tracheostomy (p = 0.48) and gastrostomy performed (p = 0.17).

Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that TLM is a viable larynx preservation approach in select patients with T3/T4a glottic and supraglottic tumors. However, glottic tumors may have less favorable outcomes after TLM compared to those with advanced supraglottic tumors.

Level of evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 135:15-26, 2025.

Keywords: advanced laryngeal tumors; meta‐analysis; oncologic outcome; prognosis; recurrence; survival.

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