Endoscopic laser excisional biopsy for selected glottic carcinomas

From January 1988 to December 1990, 44 previously untreated patients with squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the true vocal cord (33 T1a, 11 Tis) underwent carbon dioxide laser excision. The mean follow-up was 28 months (range, 12 to 44 months). Endoscopic excisional biopsy was the primary treatment in 38 of the 44 patients, whereas postoperative radiotherapy was added in 6 cases in which the pathology report showed positive margins. Recurrent vocal cord SCC developed in 8 (18%) of the cases, with an average interval of 17.8 months. Re-treatment consisted of a second laser excision in 4 cases, radiotherapy in 1, hemilaryngectomy in 1, and total laryngectomy in 2. The definitive cure rate with endoscopic excisional biopsy for the patients originally treated with laser excision alone was 94.7% (36/38). Endoscopic laser treatment for selected glottic SCC proves to be an excellent alternative to radiotherapy or open neck surgery.     

Local recurrence after CO2 laser cordectomy for early glottic carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: To point out prognosis factors of local recurrence after endoscopic cordectomies for Tis, T1a, T1b, and T2 glottic squamous cell carcinomas. STUDY DESIGN: A cohort of 110 patients treated from January 1990 to December 2000 at a single institution was retrospectively analyzed: 21 had Tis, 76 T1a, 7 T1b, and 6 T2 (mean follow-up 42 mo; range 1-160 mo). METHODS: The depth and extension of the excision were graded according to the European Laryngological Society Classification. Univariate analysis was used to review the impact on disease-free survival of factors related to the host, the tumor, and the treatment. RESULTS: According to the Kaplan-Meier method, the 5 year overall survival and the disease-free survival were 87% and 75%, respectively. The rates of cause-specific survival, ultimate local control with laser alone, and laryngeal preservation were 97%, 84%, and 90%, respectively. Univariate analysis by the log rank test revealed that vocal muscle infiltration (P = .001) and subglottic involvement (P = .02) have a significant impact on disease-free survival. Of the 22 patients with local recurrence (17 T1a, 1 T1b, and 4 T2), 9 were managed with total laryngectomy, 5 with partial laryngectomy, 4 with further laser cordectomy, 2 with radiotherapy, and 2 had no curative treatment. CONCLUSION: Transoral laser surgery for early glottic carcinoma is a valid alternative to radiotherapy and partial laryngectomy in terms of oncologic results. It offers low morbidity and excellent retreatment options in case of local failure. Careful patient selection for laser surgery is essential to secure good results.     

Vocal outcome after endoscopic cordectomies for Tis and T1 glottic carcinomas

A cohort of 101 patients with previously untreated glottic cancer (15 Tis, 66 T1a, and 20 T1b) who underwent endoscopic CO2 laser excision between January 1995 and December 1997 was prospectively analyzed. The depth and extension of the excision were graded according to the European Laryngological Society Classification including 5 types of cordectomy. All patients were subsequently examined every 2 months for a period ranging from 30 to 66 months (mean, 48 months). The rates of 5-year overall survival, disease-free survival, ultimate local control with laser alone, and laryngeal preservation were 85%, 87%, 93%, and 95%, respectively. Sixty-nine patients underwent, at least 1 year after surgery, videolaryngostroboscopy combined with perceptual and objective evaluation of the voice, and spirometry. Acoustic parameters were compared with those obtained in a matched control group by Kruskal-Wallis test. No statistically significant difference was found (p > .05) between patients submitted to subepithelial (type I) and subligamental (type II) cordectomies and controls.     

Early-stage glottic cancer: oncological results and margins in laser cordectomy

OBJECTIVES: To assess local control of early-stage glottic cancer by laser cordectomy in comparison with previously published external partial laryngectomy series and to determine the relevance of histological margins in glottic cancers excised with laser cordectomy. DESIGN: Retrospective review of laser cordectomy for carcinoma in situ (Tis) and stage T1 glottic cancer from January 1991 to January 2004. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty-two patients with Tis or T1 glottic cancer. INTERVENTION: Endoscopic laser cordectomy, classified using the system proposed by the European Laryngeal Society Working Committee. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Local control after initial surgery and after salvage compared with a published historical control group, according to the type of cordectomy performed and the histological margins of the removed specimen. RESULTS: Sixteen patients with Tis, 30 with T1a tumors, and 6 with T1b tumors were followed up for an average of 38 months. Type I cordectomy was the most common procedure used to treat Tis, and type II and type III were the most common for treating T1a and T1b tumors. Of 6 recurrences, 4 were treated with laser cordectomy and 2 were treated with external partial laryngectomy. The rate of laryngeal preservation was 100%. There were 3 recurrences despite histologically clear margins. Three (17%) of 18 patients with suspicious margins developed recurrences. The rate of local control with single intervention (46 [89%] of 52) was lower than with partial external laryngectomy. However, 46 (89%) of 52 patients ultimately had less tissue removed by laser than would have been removed by external partial laryngectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Laser cordectomy provides excellent local control and laryngeal preservation. Close follow-up of patients with positive or suspicious margins is an alternative to further routine treatment.     

Diode laser microsurgery for treatment of Tis and T1 glottic carcinomas

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the oncologic safety of diode laser surgery in the treatment of early glottic carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 45 patients affected by Tis and T1 glottic squamous cell carcinomas and treated endoscopically by diode laser (60 W, 810 nm). The endoscopic resections were graded according to the European Laryngological Society Classification including 5 types of cordectomy. These cases were classified according to the 2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer-International Union Against Cancer (AJCC-UICC) TNM system and included 9 Tis (20%), 31 T1a (68.9%), and 5 T1b (11.1%) glottic carcinomas. The length of follow-up ranged from 24 to 86 months, with an average follow-up period of 36 months. The case study included 39 males (86.7%) and 6 females (13.3%), aged 35 to 81 years, with a mean age of 51 years. RESULTS: There were 5 recurrences (11.1%): 4 local (8.9%), in which 3 were salvaged, and 1 (2.2%) regional. Three patients (6.7%) developed second primary cancers on the controlateral cord after a mean of 18 months. All local recurrences occurred in patients with T1b lesions. Forty patients (88.9%) were alive and disease-free at a median follow-up of 36 months. The overall larynx preservation was 97.6%. The actuarial recurrence-free survival analysis by the Kaplan-Meier method showed a survival of 92.3% at 2 years, 89.2 at 5 years, and 85.6 at 7 years. CONCLUSIONS: Diode laser microsurgery is an oncologically safe, function-preserving modality for the treatment of Tis and T1 glottic carcinomas. This surgical technique provides excellent local control of disease and laryngeal preservation.     

Glottische Larynxkarzinome

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic laser resection is one treatment modality for early glottic carcinoma. Benefits are the preservation of laryngeal structure without tracheotomy, the short duration of treatment, low traumatisation and good functional results. METHODS: From 1989 to 1999, 143 patients with an isolated and previously untreated glottic squamous cell carcinoma were treated by CO2 endoscopic laser resection. The tumors were classified as carcinoma in situ (Tis) in seven cases, T1 tumor (T1N0M0) in 91 patients and T2 tumor (T2N0M0) in 45 cases. Median follow-up was 5 years. RESULTS: For the group of Tis and T1 carcinomas, 86 of 98 patients were free of recurrences. The 12 recurrences (12.2%) were treated by repeated laser surgery and laryngectomy (four patients). None of these patients died of tumor related causes. For patients with T2 carcinomas, the overall recurrence rate was 28.9% (13 patients). In six patients, a total laryngectomy had to be performed and one patient died because of tumor recurrence. The relapse free survival estimate using the Kaplan-Meier method was 87% for Tis and T1 carcinomas and 70% for T2 carcinomas. The overall laryngeal preservation rate was 95% for Tis and T1 carcinomas and 85% for T2 tumors. All recurrences occurred within 4 years of primary surgery. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the oncological outcome after endoscopic laser surgery is comparable to conventional open partial resections.     

Radiotherapy for early glottic cancer and salvage surgery after recurrence

Early glottic cancer can be effectively treated with radiation or surgery, but recurrence is a possibility when using any of the treatment modalities.AimTo assess the outcome of radiotherapy as initial treatment in the control of squamous cell carcinoma of vocal cord (T1) and the effectiveness of salvage surgery (endoscopic or open) after treatment failure.Materials and MethodsA retrospective study was based on the analysis of medical records from 43 patients with T1 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottis, radiotherapy as initial treatment and follow-up period of five years.ResultsThe rate of recurrence after radiotherapy was 30.2% of the cases, mean diagnosis interval was 29.5 months. As an option for salvage treatment, patients underwent open partial laryngectomy or endoscopic surgery with control rates of 77.7% and 25% respectively.ConclusionOur cases showed high rates of recurrence after radiotherapy and open partial laryngectomy was more effective for the salvage surgery.     

CO2激光喉显微手术治疗早期声门型喉癌疗效观察及相关因素分析

目的探讨CO2激光喉显微手术治疗早期声门型喉癌的疗效和安全性,对手术注意事项进行探讨。方法在显微支撑喉镜下,对27例早期声门型喉癌患者采用CO2激光手术治疗,其中Tis6例,T1a8例,T1b7例,T26例。累及前联合者3例,未累及前联合者24例。结果全部患者CO2激光手术均成功,术后无一例患者出现呼吸困难、出血等严重并发症。随访3年以上,存活率100％。2例患者复发,其中1例行CO2激光喉显微手术再切除,1例行喉垂直部分切除并术后放疗,随访2年均未再复发。结论CO2激光喉显微手术是治疗早期声门型喉癌的有效方法,通过选择合适的患者及注意术中操作,可减少甚至避免显微喉镜激光手术引起的声带粘连。     

CO2激光联合低温等离子治疗早期声门型喉癌40例

目的 探讨CO₂激光联合低温等离子治疗早期声门型喉癌(EGC)的临床疗效。 方法 回顾性分析内镜下CO₂激光联合低温等离子治疗的40例EGC患者的临床资料,观察术后治疗效果及复发情况。 结果 所有患者首次手术均为内镜下CO₂激光联合低温等离子切除术,共随访4.2~32.0个月(平均18.6个月)。40例均未失访,复发1次3例,复发2次2例,复发率12.5%。复发后行喉全切除术2例,复发后行喉垂直部分切除术1例,复发后行颈淋巴结清扫术1例,复发后再行CO₂激光联合低温等离子切除术+气管切开术1例。 其中喉全切除再次复发行放、化疗及介入治疗,治疗效果差1例;喉垂直部分切除再次复发后选择放疗1例,治疗情况欠佳;余3例末次手术后恢复良好。术后肉芽组织增生9例,术后出现声带粘连4例。36例患者术后发音功能恢复满意,恢复欠佳2例,复发行喉全切除术后丧失发音功能2例。 结论 内镜下CO₂激光联合低温等离子治疗EGC可弥补激光和低温等离子单一治疗模式的不足、提高手术效率,临床有效可行。     

Outcome after supracricoid laryngectomies in the material of ENT Department,Poznan University of Medical Sciences

All patients with T1 and T2 laryngeal cancer should be treated with the intent to preserve the larynx. In T3 glottic low-volume tumors, larynx preservation is an appropriate standard treatment option. Supracricoid partial laryngectomy remains a reasonable alternative to radiotherapy for patients with T2–T3 glottic cancer. Prospective clinical study aims to evaluate the oncological results of supracricoid partial laryngectomy as a treatment for selected glottic and supraglottic carcinoma, and to determine the different prognostic factors that may influence local control and survival. In the period of 2000–2007, 145 patients were treated at the academic tertiary referral medical center: ENT Department, University of Medical Sciences, Poznán, Poland. The ages of the analyzed group of patients ranged from 23 to 79, with mean 56.5 age for men and 25 for women. All of the patients had biopsy proven squamous cell carcinoma. Of the 145 patients 82 had glottic cancer and 63 had supraglottic cancer. The patients were staged according to the 2003 edition of the TNM classification established by the AJCC. The pathological TNM classification was additionally taken into consideration. All patients were treated by means of supracricoid and transglottic partial laryngectomy. The type of supracricoid partial laryngectomy was based on tumor localization and extension. Four patients underwent cricohyoidopexy, 57 cricohyoidoepiglottopexy, 65 reconstruction modo Calearo, and 19 modo Sedlacek-Tucker. We performed 21 unilateral selective neck dissections and none bilateral. A nasogastric feeding tube was inserted in all patients, and removed in patients that regained proper swallowing. As a result, we took into consideration the oncological and functional results. Histopathological examination of the operating specimen revealed the presence of dysplasia or invasive carcinoma at the margins, or a close margin of less than 5 mm from the edge of the resection (16 cases). The metastases were found on the neck in three cases, predominantly in the level II (2 cases) and III (1 case). Metastasis was found in one patient that had undergone CHP, Sedlacek-Tucker, and Calearo, respectively. Five patients received postoperative radiotherapy. The decision to use adjuvant radiotherapy was based on the presence of invasive carcinoma at the resection margin and on the presence of multiple positive neck nodes or extracapsular spread of the disease. The Kaplan–Meier estimated 3- and 5-year overall survival rates in the group of 122 because 23 patients did not report for medical check-ups.     

The role of supracricoid laryngectomy for glottic carcinoma recurrence after radiotherapy failure: a critical review

CONCLUSIONS: In the near future salvage supracricoid laryngectomy (SCL) will be used more extensively for failures of radiotherapy for glottic carcinoma. OBJECTIVES: Primary radiotherapy has been used for patients with early glottic carcinomas in northern Europe and North America for more than half a century. Local recurrences after radiotherapy for glottic malignancies occur in 5-25% for T1 carcinomas and in 15-50% for T2 carcinomas. The classic choice as salvage surgery in cases of glottic squamous cell carcinoma recurrence after irradiation failure is total laryngectomy. The development of extended conservation procedures such as SCL has permitted an increasing number of successful partial laryngectomies that save laryngeal functions after radiotherapy failure. SCL allows the creation of a neo-larynx, permitting both swallowing and speech; in most cases the tracheostoma can be closed. METHODS: The electronic database Pubmed was searched without publication date limits. RESULTS: Considering available data (103 cases), 84.5% of the cases treated with salvage SCL for irradiation failure did not present a new local recurrence; laryngeal recurrences after salvage SCL (15.5%) were successfully treated with total laryngectomy in 66.7% of the cases. Tracheostoma closure was possible in all except two cases after a mean period ranging between 12 and 28 days. Swallowing results seemed good, with longer recovery time in irradiated than in non-irradiated patients who underwent SCL. Voice quality determined with psychoacoustic methods had acceptable intelligibility.     

Partial vertical laryngectomy for recurrent glottic carcinoma

Partial vertical laryngectomy for recurrent glottic carcinoma was performed in 61 patients according to stringent criteria. The great majority of the recurrent tumours appeared within 2 years of radiotherapy (80%). The mean follow-up after surgery was 79 months. At 5 years 85% of the patients were free of local recurrence. Nine patients (15%) developed a local recurrence; eight of them underwent total laryngectomy; one patient refused the operation and died. Seven patients died of other causes. The actuarial overall survival rate was 88% at 5 years. Post-operative complications were seen in 12 patients (20%); nine of these patients developed airway problems. One patient underwent total laryngectomy for severe aspiration, the others finally were decannulated. The results of this study indicate that partial vertical hemi-laryngectomy for irradiation failures is a safe procedure with good results without undue morbidity.     

嗓音显微手术治疗早期声门癌的远期疗效观察

目的观察应用嗓音显微手术治疗早期声门癌的远期疗效.方法1989-1997年采用嗓音显微外科技术对44例声带早期癌（T1a）进行了手术治疗.声带早期癌按病变的侵袭深度分为：原位癌（5例）、低侵袭癌（33例）和侵袭癌（6例）.原位癌和低侵袭癌采用微瓣切除技术;对侵袭癌则采取激光切除声带,切缘经过微波或激光处理的方法.每例患者均进行术前、术中和术后录像,术后常规病理送检,并进行长期随访.随访最长时间为11年,最短时间5年.结果应用微瓣切除方法的38例原位癌和低侵袭癌中有6例在手术后随访的2～3年内发现局部复发,局部复发率为15.8%.6例复发患者再次行微瓣切除,其中1例在10年内经历3次微瓣切除手术.1例失随访后1年再次因肿瘤复发就诊,后改喉全切除手术.微瓣切除术病例失访4例,其余随访5年以上均存活,5年生存率为89.5%（失访以死亡计）.应用声带切除术的6例早期侵袭癌中2例于术后2个月发现肿瘤复发而行喉切除术,1例失随访后3年复发改喉全切除术,1例梭型细胞癌术后采用局部放射治疗.声带切除术局部复发率为4/6;3例在3年内死亡,1例3年后失访,2例存活5年以上.结论对病变局限的早期癌,嗓音显微手术不仅能有效地治愈疾病,同时能保护和维持正常的发声功能.对于病变局限在黏膜表面的声带早期癌,嗓音显微手术的微瓣技术不仅是有效的微创治疗措施,同时微瓣切除的病变标本经连续切片的病理诊断也成为了早期声带癌诊断及鉴别诊断的“金标准”.     

早期声带癌的CO2激光微创治疗

目的 探讨CO2激光治疗早期声带癌（T1、T2）的疗效。方法 回顾性分析经CO2激光治疗的26例早期声带癌（T1a期12例、T1b期2例和T2期12例）疗效和手术并发症。结果 术后随访5～15个月,所有患者无严重并发症,发音功能恢复良好,复发3例（复发率11.5%）,再次行CO2激光手术2例,行全喉切除术1例。结论 CO2激光手术具有手术创伤小、并发症少和发音功能保留满意等优点,是早期声带癌理想的治疗方法。     

等离子射频治疗早期声门型喉癌的初步研究

目的 探讨低温等离子射频消融术治疗早期声门癌的可行性及疗效.方法 14例无淋巴转移的早期声门型喉鳞癌(Tis～T2)接受了经内镜支撑喉镜下的等离子射频切除,未采用放化疗.术后随访2年1个月至3年1个月.结果 术后患者疼痛轻微,当天即可进食、发音.无出血、呼吸困难等并发症.13例患者肿瘤切除彻底,随访至今无瘤生存.1例前连合低分化鳞癌病变侵犯声门下,术后3个月复发,再次等离子射频手术后半年复发,行部分喉切除术后随访至今21个月未见复发.结论 等离子射频可以用于早期声门型喉癌的治疗.

Abstract：

Objective To establish whether Coblation is a suitable modality for removal of early glottic carcinoma. Methods Fourteen patients with early glottic carcinoma (Tis-T2) without lymph node metastasis underwent resection of laryngeal cancer lesions using transoral endoscopic coblation (TEC),without pre- or post-operative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Results No severe complication such as bleeding and dyspnea ocuurred in the cases. Only mild postoperative pain happened to the patients. All patients could eat and pronunce on the surgery day. With following-up of 25-37 months, no recurrence was observed in 13 cases. One case, with poorly differentiated squamous cell lesion in the anterior commissure invading subglottic, recurred 3 months postoperatively. The patient received the re-resection of laryngeal lesion by coblation, but another recurrence happened to the patient 6 months postoperatively, and then was cured by partial laryngectomy, with recurrence-free survival 21 months postoperatively. Conclusion The observation suggests that transoral endoscopic coblation is a reliable and safe modality for the resection of early glottic carcinoma.     

Negative pathology following endoscopic resection of T1a squamous carcinoma of the glottis

Endoscopic CO(2) laser excision for T(1a) glottic cancer is a recognized treatment modality producing equivalent disease-free and voice results to external beam radiotherapy. On reviewing a series of 15 patients who had undergone endoscopic resection of a T(1a) glottic squamous cancer, it was noted that five patients had negative excisional pathology following the initial biopsy of an invasive squamous carcinoma. The histopathology of each patient's resected specimen was reviewed by a second pathologist who confirmed the accuracy of the results in all cases. We conclude that a significant number of early squamous carcinomas of the glottis present with very small localized, minimally invasive disease and that a proportion may be treated by biopsy alone.     

喉垂直切除会厌下移喉重建术治疗早期声带癌的疗效观察

目的:评价喉垂直切除会厌下移喉重建术(Tucker技术)治疗早期声带癌(T1b,T2)的效果,明确Tucker技术的手术适应证。方法:回顾性分析139例接受Tucker技术治疗患者的临床资料,其中127例是首次接受治疗的患者(T1b48例,T279例),12例(Tr)是声带癌曾接受过放射治疗或声带切除后复发的患者。计算生存率和评估喉功能恢复情况。结果:T1期患者的5年生存率为91.0%,肿瘤局部控制率为100%;T2期患者的5年生存率为86%,肿瘤局部控制率为94.0%;Tr期患者的5年生存率为64.0%,肿瘤局部控制率为82%。喉功能保留方面:气管拔管率为100%,平均拔管时间10d。胃管拔除率为99.3%(138/139),6例因误咽施行了胃造漏术,1例因顽固性误咽导致吸入性肺炎施行了功能性全喉切除术;平均胃管拔管时间为15d。121例(87.1%)患者获得了好或较好的发声,18例患者的发声质量较差如同耳语声。结论:喉垂直切除会厌下移喉重建术(Tucker技术)是治疗T和T期声带癌的有效手术方法。     

Voice-related quality of life in T1 glottic cancer: irradiation versus endoscopic excision

OBJECTIVES: Several studies have explored posttreatment voice outcomes for early glottic cancer with varying results. To further clarify the voice-related quality of life (QOL) of T1 glottic cancer patients treated by external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) compared to endoscopic carbon dioxide laser excision (CLE), we performed a meta-analysis. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis review for the years 1966 to 2005 for the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), laryngeal cancer, voice outcome, voice quality, and quality of life. Studies in which the VHI was assessed at least 3 months after treatment for T1 glottic cancer were identified and analyzed by meta-analysis techniques. RESULTS: Six studies with 208 patients (6 T1b and 202 T1a) treated with CLE and 91 patients (6 T1b and 85 T1a) treated with EBRT were identified. The posttreatment VHI scores were similar for the EBRT- and CLE-treated patients (p = .1, Wilcoxon rank sum test). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that CLE and EBRT provide comparable levels of voice handicap for patients with T1 glottic cancer.     

Technique of en block laser endoscopic frontolateral laryngectomy for glottic cancer

During the last 30 years, there has been expansion of the role of endoscopic partial laryngectomy procedures since Jako, Strong, and Vaughan explored the possibilities of CO2 laser microlaryngeal procedures. Despite the fact that a number of investigators have verified the validity of endolaryngeal laser resection of mid-sized glottic cancer, there are many who are unfamiliar with the technique and others who are uncomfortable with sectioning the tumor to facilitate its resection. In the past 3 years, 15 patients underwent successful en block resection of mid-sized glottic cancer (T1b 2, T2b 11, T3 2). Because en block resection is more consistent with open oncologic approaches, this method should widen the acceptance of this approach in selected lesions. The nuances of en block endoscopic frontolateral laryngectomy are presented with the hope that more surgeons will adopt this philosophy as an aspect of their armamentarium.     

The role of supracricoid laryngectomy for glottic carcinoma recurrence after radiotherapy failure: a critical review

Conclusions.In the near future salvage supracricoid laryngectomy (SCL) will be used more extensively for failures of radiotherapy for glottic carcinoma. Objectives. Primary radiotherapy has been used for patients with early glottic carcinomas in northern Europe and North America for more than half a century. Local recurrences after radiotherapy for glottic malignancies occur in 5–25% for T1 carcinomas and in 15–50% for T2 carcinomas. The classic choice as salvage surgery in cases of glottic squamous cell carcinoma recurrence after irradiation failure is total laryngectomy. The development of extended conservation procedures such as SCL has permitted an increasing number of successful partial laryngectomies that save laryngeal functions after radiotherapy failure. SCL allows the creation of a neo-larynx, permitting both swallowing and speech; in most cases the tracheostoma can be closed. Methods. The electronic database Pubmed was searched without publication date limits. Results. Considering available data (103 cases), 84.5% of the cases treated with salvage SCL for irradiation failure did not present a new local recurrence; laryngeal recurrences after salvage SCL (15.5%) were successfully treated with total laryngectomy in 66.7% of the cases. Tracheostoma closure was possible in all except two cases after a mean period ranging between 12 and 28 days. Swallowing results seemed good, with longer recovery time in irradiated than in non-irradiated patients who underwent SCL. Voice quality determined with psychoacoustic methods had acceptable intelligibility.