Transoral laser surgery for supraglottic cancer

The goal of treatment for supraglottic cancer is to achieve cure and to preserve laryngeal function. Organ preservation strategies include both endoscopic and open surgical approaches as well as radiation and chemotherapy. The challenge is to select the correct modalities for each patient. Endoscopic procedures should be limited to tumors that can be completely visualized during diagnostic microlaryngoscopy. If complete resection can be achieved, the oncologic results of transoral laser surgery appear to be comparable to those of classic supraglottic laryngectomy. In addition, functional results of transoral laser resection are superior to those of the conventional open approach, in terms of the time required to restore swallowing, tracheotomy rate, incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistulae, and shorter hospital stay. The management of the neck remains of paramount importance, as survival of patients with supraglottic cancer depends more on cervical metastasis than on the primary tumor. Most authors advocate bilateral elective neck dissection. However, in selected cases (T1,T2 clinically negative [N0] lateral supraglottic cancers), ipsilateral selective neck dissection could be performed without compromising survival. The authors conclude that with careful selection of patients, laser supraglottic laryngectomy is a suitable, and often the preferred, treatment option for supraglottic cancer.     

Transoral laser microsurgery for carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx

OBJECTIVES: The study goal was to report the oncologic outcomes of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A two-center prospective case series analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients underwent TLM for previously untreated carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx between 1997 and 2005. Pathological T stages were T1 in 8 (21%), T2 in 14 (37%), T3 in 8 (21%), and T4 in 8 (21%). Twenty-six patients (68%) had neck dissections. Thirteen patients (34%) received adjuvant radiotherapy. The mean follow-up for all patients was 31 months. The 2-year Kaplan-Meier estimates for local control were 97%; locoregional control, 94%; disease-specific survival, 80%; and overall survival, 85%. The overall functional laryngeal preservation rate was 79% (19 of 24). CONCLUSIONS: TLM is a safe and effective treatment for cancer of the supraglottic larynx. SIGNIFICANCE: TLM is an emerging strategy in the management of laryngeal cancer.     

CO2 laser treatment of supraglottic cancer

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic CO(2) laser microsurgery in the management of supraglottic cancer. METHODS: One hundred twenty-four patients (116 men and eight women; mean age, 59 years; range 31-81 years) with supraglottic cancer underwent CO(2) laser surgery (mean follow-up 5 years). The study patients were classified as follows: 45 patients, T1N0M0; 61 patients, T2N0M0; and 18 patients, T3N0M0. According to the staging, the following procedures were adopted: epiglottectomy, resection of aryepiglottic fold or false vocal cord in T1 patients (group A); resection of the false vocal cord and adjacent structures in T2 patients (group B); and supraglottic laryngectomy in T3 patients (group C). Statistical comparison of survival parameters was carried out with Wilcoxon test, considering p <.05 the minimum significance value. RESULTS: Overall actuarial survival, adjusted actuarial survival, and no evidence of disease at 5 years were 91%, 97%, and 82% in group A; 88%, 94%, and 59% in group B; and 81%, 81%, and 51% in group C, respectively. The statistical analysis of survival parameters showed a significant difference in the comparison of T1 versus T2 and T2 versus T3 tumors (p <.01). Actuarial local control, actuarial nodal control, and actuarial distant metastasis control at 5 years were 82%, 82%, and 100% in T1 patients; 63%, 90%, and 98% in T2 patients; and 77%, 75%, and 93% in T3 patients. Laryngeal preservation rate was 88.6% in T1 patients, 85.4% in T2 patients, and 93.7% in T3 patients. Patients in groups A and B were discharged after 3 to 12 days, and patients in group C, were discharged after 14 to 20 days. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that endoscopic CO(2) laser surgery is highly effective in the treatment of T1 and T2 supraglottic cancer. In T3 cancer, the CO(2) laser should be implemented in those cases where radical excision by endoscopic route is feasible.     

Endoscopic laser resection of supraglottic carcinoma

Forty-six patients with infiltrating supraglottic carcinoma were treated prospectively for cure between 1986 and 1992 with transoral laser resection of the primary. Nine primaries were classified as T1, and 37 as T2. Thirty-three had staged unilateral or bilateral neck dissections, and 16 had postoperative radiotherapy. All patients were followed up for 2 to 8 years unless they died. Of the 46 patients, 33 are alive without disease, 8 died with disease, and 5 died of intercurrent disease. Among the 8 patients who died with disease, 4 had uncontrollable local or regional recurrences, and 4 had distant metastases but were free of local or regional recurrence. Calculated overall survival was 59% and adjusted survival was 72% after 5 years. Four patients had tracheostomies perioperatively, and 2 required temporary postoperative tracheostomies. The remaining 40 patients needed no artificial airway other than orotracheal intubation for the endolaryngeal intervention. Thirty-seven patients relearned undisturbed deglutition within 2 weeks from surgery, and 4, within 4 weeks. However, 5 (10.9%) patients failed to relearn swallowing and consecutively underwent “completion” total laryngectomy. Among them were the two patients who had previously had unsuccessful surgical or radiologic treatment of their primaries and the patient with a history of oral cavity carcinoma. This study confirms that transoral laser resection can effectively control early supraglottic carcinoma. Tracheostomies are not routinely required, and phonatory function is not compromised. However, transoral laser resection could not steadily preserve undisturbed deglutition in the patients included in this study. Patients with histories of unsuccessful attempts of other larynx-sparing therapeutic modalities or of previous major head and neck interventions were not successfully managed with transoral laser resection in this series. Criteria for patient selection remain to be established. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1997;117:681-7.)     

Management of cancer of the supraglottis.

We present the results of a retrospective study of 903 patients treated with conservation surgery for carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx so we can evaluate our management of supraglottic cancer with different types of surgery. In 301 patients, an extended supraglottic laryngectomy was performed. The recent selective use of transoral laser resection appears to be a rational approach. The 5-year uncorrected survival was 84%, 81%, 76%, and 55% for stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively. The most common site for local-regional failure was the cervical lymphatics. The percentage of occult disease in the NO neck was 21% and epilaryngeal supraglottic location, locally advanced and GIII tumors have a higher frequency of lymph node involvement. There were no differences between comprehensive and anterolateral elective neck dissections. A bilateral elective neck dissection is recommended. In histologically positive neck disease, the survival rates were better with postoperative radiotherapy only in cases of extracapsular spread.     

Efficacy of routine bilateral neck dissection in the management of the N0 neck in T1-T2 unilateral supraglottic cancer

BACKGROUND: The treatment of the clinically negative (N0) neck in supraglottic laryngeal cancer continues to be an area of controversy. The aim of this study was to analyze the long-term efficacy of routine bilateral neck dissection compared with ipsilateral neck dissection in T1-T2 N0 lateral supraglottic carcinomas. METHODS: A retrospective review of 108 patients who underwent surgery for T1-T2 supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma was performed. Forty-eight had undergone ipsilateral functional neck dissection, and 60 had undergone bilateral functional neck dissections. None of these patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. RESULTS: No significant differences (p = .78) in regional recurrence were observed between the patients treated with bilateral neck dissection (13%) and those treated with ipsilateral neck dissection (17%). The 5-year survival rates were 73% and 80% for the patients who received a bilateral and ipsilateral neck dissection, respectively (p = .51). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that routine bilateral neck dissection may not be necessary in the surgical treatment of all supraglottic cancers.     

Oncologic outcomes after neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by curative resection with tumor-specific mesorectal excision for fixed locally advanced rectal cancer: Impact of postirradiated pathologic downstaging on local recurrence and survival

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the oncologic outcomes and clinical factors affecting survival in patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy following tumor specific mesorectal excision for locally advanced, fixed rectal cancer. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy has resulted in significant tumor downstaging, which enhances curative resection and subsequently improves local disease control for rectal cancer. However, oncologic outcomes, according to clinical factors, have not yet been fully understood in locally advanced and fixed rectal cancer. METHODS: A total of 114 patients who had undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiation for advanced rectal cancer (T3 or T4 and node positive) were investigated retrospectively. Chemotherapy was administered intravenously with 5-FU and leucovorin during weeks 1 and 5 of radiotherapy. The total radiation dose was 5040 cGY in 25 fractions delivered over 5 weeks. Tumor-specific mesorectal excision was done 4 to 6 weeks after the completion of neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Survival and recurrence rates, according to the pathologic stage, were evaluated. Moreover, factors affecting survival were investigated. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rates according to pathologic stage were: 100% in pathologic complete remission (n = 10), 80% in stage I (n = 23), 56.8% in stage II (n = 34), and 42.3% in stage III (n = 47) (P = 0.0000). Local, systemic, and combined recurrence rates were 11.4%, 22.8%, and 3.5%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the pathologic N stage and operation method were the independent factors affecting survival rate. CONCLUSION: Pathologic complete remission showed excellent oncologic outcomes, and the pathologic N stage was the most important factor for oncologic outcomes.     

Supraglottic hemipharyngolaryngectomy for the treatment of T1 and T2 carcinomas of laryngeal margin and piriform sinus

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the functional and oncologic results of supraglottic hemipharyngolaryngectomy as treatment for T1 and T2 lateral laryngeal margin and piriform sinus carcinomas. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients underwent this surgical treatment. The disease was classified T1 in 14 of these cases (16.1%) and T2 in 73 cases (83.9%). The nodal status indicated 39 cases of N0 (44.8%), 18 cases of N1 (20.7%), 28 cases of N2 (32.2%), and two cases of N3 (2.2%). With regard to the N0 cases, 15 (38.4%) were positive at the histologic examination. Within the N+ group, 52.1% involved capsular rupture. RESULTS: Two patients died of complications during the postoperative period. The mean duration of nasogastric tube feeding was 20 days. Six patients (7.27%) had feeding resumption problems. All patients were decanulated after a mean period of 16 days. All patients underwent postoperative radiation therapy, except two with T1N0N- disease and three who had previously undergone this treatment. The 5-year actuarial survival rate was 60.3% (T1, 83.3%; T2, 49.9%). The rates of local and regional recurrence, second primary cancer, and metastasis were 19.5%, 24.1%, and 28.1%, respectively. The infringement of the pharyngoepiglottic fold was significantly correlated with locoregional recurrence. The survival rate was significantly correlated with the nodal status and extracapsular spread. CONCLUSIONS: Initial staged cancers of the laryngeal margin and piriform sinus can be successfully managed with conservative surgery called supraglottic hemipharyngolaryngectomy combined with nodal neck dissection. Postoperative radiation therapy is still recommended in most cases because of the high recurrence potential and prevalence of secondary regional cancers. This combined treatment seems to be a suitable therapeutic choice in the treatment of patients with T1 and T2 carcinomas of the laryngeal margins and piriform sinus.     

Horizontal supraglottic partial laryngectomy for selected squamous carcinoma of the vallecula

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to determine the incidence of local control in patients with selected squamous carcinoma of the vallecula treated with horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy; to analyze the consequences of local recurrence in terms of nodal recurrence, distant metastasis, survival, causes of death, overall local control, and laryngeal preservation; and to identify any clinical factors predictive of these outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective nonrandomized case series in a university teaching hospital. An inception cohort of 95 previously untreated patients were followed until death or for a minimum of 5 years. According to the 2002 Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC) staging classification system, the tumor was classified as T1, T2, and T3 in 13, 60, and 22 patients, respectively, while disease in 67 patients was considered to be in stages III to IV. All patients underwent a horizontal partial supraglottic partial laryngectomy. Ninety-four patients had an associated neck dissection. An induction chemotherapy regimen was used in 91 patients; postoperative radiation therapy was given for 49 patients. The main outcome measures were local recurrence, nodal recurrence, distant metastasis, and survival. RESULTS: The 1-, 3-, and the 5-year actuarial survival estimates were 86.3%, 64.2%, and 47.4%, respectively. Overall, the main causes of death were as follows: metachronous second primary tumor (47.2% of patients), intercurrent disease (16.7%), distant metastasis (15.3%), local recurrence (6.3%), and nodal recurrence, (4.2%). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year actuarial local recurrence rates were 4.5%, 11%, and 11%, respectively. Nine patients developed a local recurrence; 3 were successfully salvaged. Using multivariate analysis, no single variable was found to increase the risk for local recurrence. The overall laryngeal preservation rate and local control rate were 89.5% (85/95) and 93.4% (89/95), respectively. Local recurrence was associated with a significant increase in nodal recurrence (p <.04) and distant metastasis (p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Based on this experience, horizontal partial supraglottic laryngectomy appears to be a valid approach for functional organ-preservation in patients with selected T1-T3 SCC of the vallecula.     

Partial laryngectomy after irradiation failure.

INTRODUCTION: Radiation therapy is often the first method of treating patients with early cancer of the glottis. There is a substantial failure rate among these patients. Total laryngectomy has usually been the means of treating patients with failure after radiation. In recent decades, partial laryngectomy has been used for salvage in such patients. This article will discuss the use of partial laryngectomy for radiation failure both from the oncologic result as well as the morbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1984 and 1995, 27 patients with early-stage laryngeal carcinoma underwent salvage partial laryngectomy after irradiation failure. Vertical laryngectomy was performed in 18 patients (13 with T1 N0 and 5 with T2 N0) and horizontal-supraglottic laryngectomy in 9 patients (3 with T1 N0, 1 with T2 N0, and 5 with T2 N1). The mean follow-up was 4.1 years. RESULTS: Local control was obtained in 77.7% of patients with glottic lesions (T1: 84.6%; T2: 60%, P = NS) and in 55.5% of patients with supraglottic lesions (T1: 66.6%; T2: 50%; P = NS). There was no regional recurrence in the vertical laryngectomy group, whereas the regional control rate in the horizontal-supraglottic laryngectomy group was 77.7%. Distant control was achieved in 94.4% of patients with glottic disease and in 77.7% of patients with supraglottic disease. The overall survival rate for glottic lesions was 88.8% (T1: 92.3%; T2: 80%; P = NS) versus 66.6% for supraglottic lesions (T1: 100%; T2: 50%; P = NS). CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Vertical laryngectomy was not associated with an increased complication rate. Morbidity in the horizontal-supraglottic laryngectomy group was higher, but a satisfactory functional outcome was obtained in all cases. Therefore, in early laryngeal cancer (glottic T1-T2, supraglottic T1) partial laryngectomy can be performed with good expectation of cure and satisfactory laryngeal function. In T2 supraglottic lesions, the oncologic results are less satisfactory; further research is required for developing more efficient complimentary or alternative treatments modalities.     

Carbon dioxide laser microsurgery for early glottic carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: To define the oncologic efficacy of transoral endoscopic CO2 laser surgery in early glottic carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective study of 103 patients with glottic carcinoma (14 Tis, 68 pT1a, 14 pT1b, and 7 pT2) treated from October 1993 to June 2001. Surgical treatment included endoscopic CO2 laser cordectomies according to the classification of the European Laryngological Society. RESULTS: According to the Kaplan-Meier method, the probability of remaining free of local recurrence 5 years after primary surgery alone was 100% for the Tis, 96.05% for the T1, and 100% for the T2. Local control at 5 years after exclusive CO2 laser salvage surgery was 98.03%. The probability of remaining free of local recurrence 5 years after any type of salvage surgery was 100%. Laryngeal preservation was achieved in 100% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: According to the present series, endoscopic CO2 laser surgery is an effective treatment for early glottic cancer. EBM RATING: C-4.     

Sphincter-Preserving Operations Following Preoperative Chemoradiation: An Alternative to Abdominoperineal Resection for Lower Rectal Cancer?

BACKGROUND: Sphincter-preserving operations (SPO) for lower rectal cancer are on the rise. In the study reported here, we compared the oncologic outcomes of patients who underwent sphincter-preserving operations following preoperative chemoradiation for lower rectal cancer with the outcome for patients who underwent abdominoperineal resection (APR). METHODS: This prospective study included 87 patients who underwent proctectomy with curative intent for locally advanced rectal cancer that was located less than 6 cm from the anal verge. Forty-four patients had APR with no preoperative treatment. Forty-three patients underwent concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) consisting of preoperative 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and pelvic radiation (4500-5040 cGy); this was followed 6 weeks later by surgery (SPO/CCRT). The oncologic outcomes between the two groups were compared, and factors affecting survival were evaluated. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 56.2 months. The overall postoperative complication rates did not significantly differ between SPO/CCRT and APR (32.6% versus 34.2%; p = 0.879). Also, there were no significant differences in the overall recurrence rate (20.9% versus 20.5%; p = 0.956) and 5-year overall survival rate (70.8% versus 62.9%; p = 0.189) between the two groups. By multivariate analysis, only the pathologic N stage was significantly associated with overall survival (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Sphincter-preserving operation with CCRT could be another option for the treatment of locally advanced lower rectal cancer in patients who are clinically considered for APR, with no deterioration of oncologic outcomes. For patients undergoing curative resection for lower rectal cancer, the pathologic N stage can provide valuable prognostic information about survival.     

Robotic surgery compared with laparotomy for high-grade endometrial cancer

High-grade endometrial cancer often presents with occult metastatic disease and this presentation pattern can be considered a contraindication to minimally invasive surgery. We sought to compare the surgical and oncologic outcomes of patients with high-grade endometrial cancer who underwent surgical management/staging via the robotic approach versus the traditional open approach. A retrospective analysis was performed of patients with high-grade endometrial cancer who were treated at a single institution from January 2008 through December 2011. High-grade endometrial histology was defined as FIGO grade 2 or 3 endometrioid, serous, clear cell or uterine carcinosarcoma. Pre-operatively, all patients had clinical stage I disease based on a combination of physical examination and imaging studies. Baseline patient demographics, operative results, complications and oncologic outcomes were analyzed. Eighty consecutive patients were included. Forty-seven patients underwent surgical management using the robotic approach and 33 patients underwent a traditional operation via laparotomy. The groups were well matched in terms of age, body mass index, medical co-morbidities, stage and histology. The average hospital stay for patients who underwent open surgery was significantly longer than for those who underwent a robotic approach [5.6 versus 1.4 days (p = 0.0001)]. Of the patients who underwent robotic surgery, 7/47 (15 %) experienced an operative complication versus 18/33 (55 %) in the open surgery cohort (p = 0.002). The average number of pelvic lymph nodes retrieved in each cohort was 12. The average number of para-aortic lymph nodes retrieved in each group was 4. On final pathologic analysis, 20 patients in the robotic surgery arm were found to have disease that had spread beyond the uterus (43 %), compared to 14 in the traditional surgery group (42 %). There were 11/47 (23 %) recurrences in the robotic surgery group during the study period, compared to 8/33 (24 %) in the laparotomy group. There were no significant differences in progression-free or overall survival between the two cohorts. Robotic surgery is safer than laparotomy for patients with high-grade endometrial cancer. The oncologic outcomes appear similar. Minimizing morbidity in this patient population is important since many are elderly and will require adjuvant therapy.     

Clinical outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for advanced transverse and descending colon cancer: a single-center experience

Background

The role of laparoscopic surgery in management of transverse and descending colon cancer remains controversial. The aim of the present study is to investigate the short-term and oncologic long-term outcomes associated with laparoscopic surgery for transverse and descending colon cancer.

Methods

This cohort study analyzed 245 patients (stage II disease, n?=?70; stage III disease, n?=?63) who underwent resection of transverse and descending colon cancers, including 200 laparoscopic surgeries (LAC) and 45 conventional open surgeries (OC) from December 1996 to December 2010. Short-term and oncologic long-term outcomes were recorded.

Results

The operative time was longer in the LAC group than in the OC group. However, intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower and postoperative recovery time was significantly shorter in the LAC group than in the OC group. The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates for patients with stage II were 84.9% and 84.9% in the OC group and 93.7% and 90.0% in the LAC group, respectively. The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates for patients with stage III disease were 63.4% and 54.6% in the OC group and 66.7% and 56.9% in the LAC group, respectively.

Conclusion

Use of laparoscopic surgery resulted in acceptable short-term and oncologic outcomes in patients with advanced transverse and descending colon cancer.     

First-line chemotherapy improves the resection rate and long-term survival of locally advanced (T4, any N, M0) squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus: final report on 163 consecutive patients with 5-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this prospective, nonrandomized study was to evaluate the immediate and long-term results of first-line chemotherapy and possible surgery in locally advanced, presumably T4 squamous cell esophageal cancer. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Locally advanced esophageal cancer is rarely operable and has a dismal prognosis. For this reason, neoadjuvant cytoreductive treatments are more and more frequently used with the aim of downstaging the tumor, increasing the resection rate, and possibly improving survival. Methods: From January 1983 to December 1991, 163 consecutive patients with a presumedly T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus (group A) received on average 2.5 cycles (range, 1-6) of first-line chemotherapy with cisplatin (100 mg/m2 on day 1) and 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2 per day, in continuous infusion from day 1 through day 5). Chemotherapy was followed by surgery when adequate downstaging of the tumor was obtained. RESULTS: Chemotherapy toxicity was WHO grade 0 to 2 in 80% of cases, but 3 toxic deaths (1.9%) occurred. Restaging suggested a downstaging of the tumor in 101 of 163 patients (62%), but only 85 patients (52%) underwent resection surgery; it was complete or R0 in 52 (32%) and incomplete or R1-2 in 33. Overall postoperative mortality was 11.7% (10 of 85), morbidity 41% (35 of 85). Complete pathologic response was documented in 6 patients, and significant downstaging to pStage I, IIA, or IIB occurred in 25 more patients. The overall 5-year survival was 11 % (median, 11 months). After resection surgery, the 5-year survival was 20% (median, 16 months); none of the nonresponders survived 4 years after palliative treatments without resection (median survival, 5 months). The 5-year survival rate of the 52 patients undergoing an R0 resection was 29% (median, 23 months). Stratifying patients according to the R, pT, pN, and pStage classifications, the survival curves were comparable to the corresponding data obtained in the 587 group B patients with "potentially resectable" esophageal cancer who underwent surgery alone during the same period. Furthermore, the results were improved in comparison with 136 previous or subsequent patients with a locally advanced tumor who did not undergo neoadjuvant treatments (group C). In these patients, the R0 resection rate was 7%, and the overall 5-year survival was 3% (median, 5 months). CONCLUSION: Although nonrandomized, these results suggest that in locally advanced esophageal carcinoma, first-line chemotherapy increases the resection rate and improves the overall long-term survival. In responding patients who undergo R0 resection surgery, the prognosis depends on the final pathologic stage and not on the initial pretreatment stage.     

Laser surgery for early to moderately advanced glottic, supraglottic, and hypopharyngeal cancers

Current practice standards for the treatment of early to moderately advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer demand both achievement of cure and preservation of laryngeal structure and function to the greatest extent possible. The oncologic and functional results of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for early glottic cancer appear to be comparable to those of radiotherapy, with a higher rate of laryngeal preservation and a lower cost. TLM for early and moderately advanced supraglottic and hypopharyngeal cancers offers similar results with regard to survival and local control to those obtained with open surgical approaches. In addition, functional results of TLM are superior to those of open approaches because tracheotomies are usually avoided, rehabilitation of swallowing is faster, and hospital stay is shorter. TLM, when applicable, has become the preferred modality for surgical treatment of most early to moderately advanced cancers of the larynx and selected tumors of the hypopharynx.     

Critical appraisal of laparoscopic vs open rectal cancer surgery

AIM: To evaluate the long-term clinical and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic rectal resection (LRR) and the impact of conversion in patients with rectal cancer.METHODS: An analysis was performed on a prospective database of 633 consecutive patients with rectal cancer who underwent surgical resection. Patients were compared in three groups: Open surgery (OP), laparoscopic surgery, and converted laparoscopic surgery. Short-term outcomes, long-term outcomes, and survival analysis were compared.RESULTS: Among 633 patients studied, 200 patients had successful laparoscopic resections with a conversion rate of 11.1% (25 out of 225). Factors predictive of survival on univariate analysis include the laparoscopic approach (P = 0.016), together with factors such as age, ASA status, stage of disease, tumor grade, presence of perineural invasion and vascular emboli, circumferential resection margin < 2 mm, and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. The survival benefit of laparoscopic surgery was no longer significant on multivariate analysis (P = 0.148). Neither 5-year overall survival (70.5% vs 61.8%, P = 0.217) nor 5-year cancer free survival (64.3% vs 66.6%, P = 0.854) were significantly different between the laparoscopic group and the converted group.CONCLUSION: LRR has equivalent long-term oncologic outcomes when compared to OP. Laparoscopic conversion does not confer a worse prognosis.     

Conservation laryngeal surgery versus total laryngectomy for radiation failure in laryngeal cancer

BACKGROUND: Total laryngectomy is the standard of care for surgical salvage of radiation failure in laryngeal cancer. However, the role of conservation laryngeal surgery in this setting remains unclear. The objective was to compare the efficacy of conservation versus total laryngectomy for salvage of radiation failure in patients who initially presented with T1 or T2 squamous cancer of the larynx. METHODS: A 21-year retrospective analysis of patients who received surgery at a single comprehensive cancer center after definitive radiation therapy is reported. At recurrence, the patients were reevaluated and then underwent a total laryngectomy or, if possible, a conservation laryngeal procedure. The charts of 105 patients who failed radiation treatment for primary laryngeal cancer and who subsequently underwent surgical salvage were reviewed for this study. Eighty-nine were male (84.8%). The mean age was 60.3 years. The median follow-up time after surgery was 69.4 months. Most patients with recurrence after radiotherapy required total laryngectomy (69.5%; 73/105). Conservation laryngeal surgery was performed for 32 patients (31.5%). Concomitant neck dissections were performed on 45 patients (45.5%). RESULTS: In 14 patients, local or regional recurrence developed after salvage surgery: 9 patients after total laryngectomy (12.3%; 9/73), and 5 patients (15.6%; 5/32) after conservation laryngeal surgery. This difference was not statistically significant, nor was there a difference in disease-free interval for the two procedures (p = .634, by log-rank test). Distant metastasis developed in 13 patients. Most developed in the setting of local and/or regional recurrence, but distant metastasis occurred as the only site of failure in 6 of the patients who had undergone total laryngectomy but in 1 of the conservation surgery patients treated for a supraglottic laryngeal cancer. The overall mortality for patients who underwent total laryngectomy was also higher: 73.74% (54/73) versus 59.4% (19/32) for patients who underwent a conservation approach (p = .011 by log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS: Although conservation laryngeal surgery was possible in a few patients with local failure after radiotherapy, conservation laryngeal surgery is an oncologically sound alternative to total laryngectomy for these patients.     

Surgical management of posterior pharyngeal wall carcinomas: functional and oncologic results

BACKGROUND: The optimal primary treatment for posterior pharyngeal wall tumors remains controversial. METHODS: To assess the relevance of surgical treatment from a functional and oncologic point of view, we reviewed the cases of 77 patients surgically treated between 1984 and 1995. Among them 23 had been previously irradiated. Fifty-five patients underwent a conservative surgery (CS) sparing the larynx; 19 direct closures, 6 reconstructions of the posterior wall with a thoracic myocutaneous flap, 15 with a platysma flap, and 15 with a free forearm flap were performed. Twenty-two patients underwent radical surgery (RS). All previously untreated patients had postoperative radiotherapy. The functional assessment concerned the CS group. Oncologic results, especially local control and survival were studied for the whole group. RESULTS: Of the 55 patients who underwent CS, 53 (96%) had their canula and 49 (89%) their feeding tube removed. At 1 year, in the platysma and free forearm groups, 21 of the 24 assessable patients were back to exclusive oral intake. For patients treated by primary surgery followed by radiotherapy, the rate of local failure was 11% (18% for tumors greater than 4 cm), and the 5-year survival rate was 35%. For patients who had previous radiotherapy, the rates were, respectively, 52% and 16%. CONCLUSION: The satisfactory functional results, caused by the improvement of reconstructive procedures, allow conservative surgery even in the case of large tumors. Oncologic results, especially local control, suggest that primary surgery followed by radiotherapy is effective for the treatment of posterior wall cancer. The oncologic results of surgery in a previously irradiated area are poor, and CS is not recommended in these cases.