Publication:

Transoral laser microsurgery for supraglottic and hypopharyngeal squamous cancers

Background Open partial laryngectomies for supraglottic and hypopharyngeal cancers have a very high incidence of aspiration in the post-operative period with resultant delay in restoration of swallowing. The present study examines the functional efficacy and oncological safety of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for select subset of T1/T2/T3 squamous cancers of the supraglottis and hypopharynx with freely mobile vocal cords that are easily accessible on suspension microlaryngoscopy.

Methods This is a retrospective study of squamous cancers of the supraglottis and hypopharynx treated with transoral CO2 laser resection.

Results Oncologically, resections performed under the magnification of the operating microscope are safe and yield high local control rates ranging from 79% to 85% for supraglottic cancer and from 63% to 89% for hypopharyngeal cancer.

Conclusions Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in selected cases of supraglottis and hypopharyngeal squamous cancers is safe procedure with several advantages over the open partial laryngectomy procedures as also over radiotherapy.