Premalignant lesions of the vocal cords. A retrospective study of 62 cases treated with CO2 laser

Abstract

A series of 62 patients treated by (repeated) CO2 laser excision and/or vaporization for premalignant lesions of the vocal cords was analysed retrospectively. Of the 54 patients available for follow-up (ranging from 1 to 15 years), five patients (9%) developed an invasive glottic carcinoma and needed radiotherapy. Only two patients (4%) needed extensive surgery (total laryngectomy). One patient (2%) died of a recurrent carcinoma despite radiotherapy and laryngectomy, and six patients (11%) died of a metachronic lung carcinoma. The therapeutic results of (repeated) laser therapy were comparable to those in other reports regarding radiotherapy or stripping. The subjective functional results were satisfactory and tended to improve along with refinement of laser surgery techniques. Follow-up of patients who once had a premalignant laryngeal lesion is mandatory ad vitam, regardless of the grade of the lesion. For the screening of lung cancer, there is still no consensus on a standard-of-care. The classical chest X-ray remains the most accessible and comfortable screening procedure.