CO2 laser resurfacing of intraoral lymphatic malformations: A 10-year experience

Objective

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of CO₂ laser resurfacing in the symptomatic treatment of intraoral lymphatic malformations (LM).

Design

Retrospective review.

Methods

Charts were reviewed on 26 patients (16 male, 10 female) from January 1997 to July 2007 who underwent CO₂ laser resurfacing for symptomatic treatment of intraoral LM. A questionnaire was given in order to elucidate effectiveness in controlling symptoms and speed of postoperative recovery.

Results

Mean age at time of first treatment was 9.2 years (median 6.8). Mean number of treatments was 3.0 (median 2.5). Average time between treatments was 9.7 months (median 5.6). Questionnaires were returned for 17 patients (65%). Common preoperative symptoms included swelling, bleeding, vesicle formation, and pain. All 17 patients reported symptomatic improvement after laser treatment. Five patients (29%) tolerated oral intake immediately, 10 (59%) the following day, and 1 (6%) was gastric tube dependent. Four patients (24%) returned to normal activity immediately after treatments, six (35%) by the following day, six (35%) within a few days, and one (6%) within a week. No postoperative complications were seen.

Conclusion

CO₂ laser resurfacing appears to be both safe and efficacious in treatment of symptoms related to intraoral LM. Intermittent treatments for recurrent symptoms is expected.     

Polysomnography outcomes following transoral CO2 laser microsurgery in pediatric patients with laryngomalacia

Objective

Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of stridor in newborns and infants. The aim of the contribution was to present objectified data of the outcome of transoral CO₂ laser microsurgery in patients with laryngomalacia utilizing polysomnography (PSG).

Patients and methods

This retrospective study comprised 21 patients who were diagnosed to suffer from laryngomalacia. Diagnosis was confirmed by pharyngo-laryngoscopy under spontaneous breathing. If there was evidence for laryngomalacia a transoral CO₂ lasersurgical intervention and/or epiglottopexy was performed in the same session. 8 patients, on whom the following should be focused, received pre- and postoperative PSG which was performed for efficiency control of the applied treatment.

Results

All 21 patients underwent invasive treatment for laryngomalacia (lasersurgical division of the aryepiglottic folds: n = 13; epiglottopexy: n = 5; combined procedure: n = 3). All patients were successfully extubated after surgery. In 20/21 cases breathing improved clearly after one single intervention. Stridor disappeared completely in the further course of the disease. In the 8 patients who received pre- and postinterventional PSG, lasersurgical interventions were performed. Statistical analysis of pre- and postoperative PSG revealed that MOAI/h (mixed obstructive apnea index/hour) improved significantly (p = 0.016, Wilcoxon-Signed-Rank Test). Also desaturation/hour improved in the postoperative course (p = 0.11).

Conclusion

The presented concept describes an effective and reliable approach for diagnostics and treatment for laryngomalacia. To objectify the success of supraglottoplaty in patients suffering from severe laryngomalacia a pre- and postoperative PSG seems to be useful and advisable. The present results of PSG demonstrate that children with laryngomalacia to benefit from lasersurgical division of the aryepiglottic folds and/or epiglottopexy. This fact is supported by the postoperative improved clinical aspect.     

Combined therapy with Isoprinosine and CO2 laser microsurgery for the treatment of laryngeal papillomatosis

Summary Recurrent laryngeal papillomas and their potential malignant degenerations in adult patients have been known clinically for about 100 years. An early effective treatment has great importance in preventing possible obstruction of the airway or malignant change. The use of endoscopic microsurgery with the CO₂ laser has resulted in a significant improvement in the eradication of papillomatous nodules. The advantages of laser surgery are: better visualization of the larynx to allow more precise and deeper resection of papillomas, limited bleeding, and a reduced possibility of seeding uninvolved mucosa. Although laser surgery is the current method of choice for treating laryngeal papillomatosis, it has not solved completely the problems of recurrences. To make treatment more effective, we have developed a therapeutic regimen that combines laser microsurgery with the immunostimulant methisoprinol (Isoprinosine). Our observations in 18 patients have shown that this combined management was more successful than using a single modility with either the laser or Isoprinosine alone. The combined approach was also effective in recurrent cases, with the timing of the combination influencing the results of the treatment given.     

Use of the CO2-laser micropoint micromanipulator for the treatment of laryngomalacia

Between September 1989 and June 1994, 21 children (17 boys, 4 girls) with moderate to severe symptoms due to laryngomalacia underwent endoscopic surgery using the CO₂-laser micropoint manipulator (shot-by-shot, 0.1 s, super-pulse, 2–3 W power; 280 m beam; 400 mm working distance). Mean age of the children was 5 months (range, 1–11 months). The procedure was performed under high-frequency jet ventilation and consisted in the resection and/or vaporization of the aryepiglottic folds. This tissue removal could be extended to the laryngeal mucosa of the arytenoids and the lateral edge of the epiglottis. Results of surgery were excellent with normalization (8 patients) or, at worst, a very definite improvement of symptoms (4 patients). Furthermore, no complications occurred due to the technique used. These results have convinced us that the CO₂-laser micropoint manipulator technique, with the super-pulse shooting mode and high-frequency jet ventilation, is by far superior to microsurgery with cold instruments when endoscopic treatment of laryngomalacia is indicated.     

Treatment with laser CO2 cordectomy and clinical implications in management of mild and moderate laryngeal precancerosis

All the classification of precancerous lesions are based on the progression of specific histopathological characteristics, which in turn considers the grade of epithelial hyperplasia and dysplasia, nevertheless the transformation of laryngeal keratosis into carcinoma occurs through progressive modifications of normal epithelium in keratosis without dysplasia, to the point of degenerating into carcinoma in situ. The treatment of laringeal precancerosis has not yet defined a gold standard: according to some authors, a simple excision biopsy may be sufficient, others, instead, perform the stripping of the involved vocal cord, while others yet perform vaporization by means of CO₂ laser. The aim of this paper is to evaluate and possibly validate the treatment of mild and moderate laryngeal dysplasia (LIN1-2) by CO₂ laser, with particular attention to oncological and functional results. Fifty-eight patients (44 males and 14 females, mean age 54.3 years) affected by mild and moderate dysplasia (32 LIN I and 26 LIN II) diagnosed by a bioptic exam, were treated by performing a CO₂ laser cordectomy (following the European Society of Laryngology’s criteria). Before surgery to the patients was given a questionnaire to identify primary risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use and gastroesophageal reflux, were also handed a Vocal Performance Questionnaire. In all patients was performed a pH measurement over a 24-h period, a voice evaluation using a Kay digital Strobe 920. 84% of patients were smokers; the presence of reflux was reported in 11 patients (19%). The 32 LIN1 cases treated with type I cordectomy determined four recurrences (12.4%), of which two LIN1, one LIN2 and one carcinoma in situ. Of the 26 LIN2 cases examined, the 12 treated with type 1 cordectomy generated 1 recurrence alone with the presence of an invasive carcinoma (T1a) (8.3%), while no recurrences were reported in the group of 14 LIN2 cases treated with type II cordectomy. 93.1% (54/58) of cases showed a complete closing of the glottal plane over time. Considering the results in terms of disease control, and functional outcomes, our experience suggests subepithelial cordectomy (ELS I) for LIN 1 and subligament cordectomy (ELS II) for LIN 1 recurrences; therefore we suggest subligament cordectomy (ELS II) in LIN 2 cases.     

CO2 laser supraglottoplasty for severe laryngomalacia: a study of symptomatic improvement

OBJECTIVE: To investigate post-operative symptom improvement in patients with severe laryngomalacia. STUDY DESIGN: Severe laryngomalacia was diagnosed in 138 patients (average age of 6.97 months) by bronchoscopy. Laryngomalacia was defined by the direction of supraglottic collapse: type A (posterolateral), type B (complete), and type C (anterior). As multiple laryngomalacia types within an individual were common, patients were further categorized into group I (type A only), group II (type B or B+A), and group III (type C, C+A, or C+B+A). CO(2) laser supraglottoplasty was performed. Improvements in inspiratory stridor, suprasternal retraction, substernal retraction, feeding difficulty, choking, post-feeding vomit, failure to thrive, and cyanosis were investigated. The presence of a symptom was scored as 1, and the absence as 0. The total score of symptoms was calculated for each patient. General medical history, age at time of surgery, type of laryngomalacia, post-operative intubation period, duration in ICU and dates of postoperative admission were recorded. RESULTS: Overall symptom improvement was observed in 82.6% of patients, with statistically significant resolution evident in group III (B-value=0.79, 95% CI: -0.01, 1.59). Symptoms were not well improved in patients with cerebral palsy (n=32, B-value=-1.02, 95% CI: -1.80, -0.25; p<0.01). The two most improved symptoms were substernal retraction and suprasternal retraction, while the two least improved symptoms were choking and feeding difficulties. CONCLUSION: CO(2) laser supraglottoplasty is an effective treatment option for severe laryngomalacia, especially for group III laryngomalacia cases in the absence of cerebral palsy. It has the superiority of facilitating significant symptomatic resolution and reducing the post-operative complications.     

Curative effect of cold micro forceps and CO2 laser in the treatment of laryngeal amyloidosis

Abstract

Background: Amyloidosis is a benign, slowly progressive disease. However, the treatment of laryngeal amyloidosis (LA) has not been studied systematically.

Objectives: To investigate the treatment results of cold micro forceps or carbon dioxide laser under microlaryngoscope in the treatment of LA.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted for the cases collected from January 1990 to March 2016 at our department.

Results: One hundred and eighteen patients (44 males and 74 females, with an average age of 51.7 years) with LA were identified. The amyloidosis was not found in organs other than the larynges and tracheas. The patients most commonly presented with hoarseness and dyspnea. All patients underwent surgical removal of the amyloid deposits (via micro forceps or CO₂ laser). Twenty-nine patients developed recurrences requiring further treatments. The mean interval from treatments to recurrences in these patients was 16.5 months. Five patients were treated more than once. No significant difference was found between cold micro forceps and CO₂ laser methods in recurrences.

Conclusions: LA generally behaves as a benign disease. Resection of LA either via cold micro forceps or CO₂ laser under microlaryngoscope is both safe and effective methods. Regular follow-up with laryngoscopy is indicated for early diagnosis of recurrence.     

1,25(OH)2D3 and specific IgE levels in children with recurrent tonsillitis,and allergic rhinitis

Objectives

We investigated 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ [1,25(OH)₂D₃] and specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in children with recurrent tonsillitis (RT) plus allergic rhinitis (AR).

Methods

Thirty children with RT + AR were included in the study group, and 30 healthy children comprised the control group. AR-related symptoms were determined using a symptom scale. 1,25(OH)₂D₃ and specific IgE measurements were made in both groups.

Results

The 1,25(OH)₂D₃ value was significantly lower in the RT + AR group than in the control group. Specific IgE (mixed) panels were in normal limits in both groups; whereas specific IgE (mixed) grass pollen panel value of RT + AT group was significantly higher than that of the control group. Higher nasal itching, nasal obstruction, and concha edema scores were related to significantly higher specific IgE values for the (mixed) grass pollen panel, whereas higher sneeze scores were related to higher specific IgE values for the (mixed) pediatric panel.

Conclusions

Children with grass pollen allergy may not be exposed to sufficient sunlight. With reduced 1,25(OH)₂D₃, T helper cells may increase, and allergic response also increases. As allergic events increased, these children did not go outside and thus lacked sun exposure. This vicious cycle must be broken, and children with RT + AR should have sunlight exposure to increase 1,25(OH)₂D₃ levels.     

CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser treatment of laryngeal stenoses after reconstructive laryngectomies with cricohyoidopexy,cricohyoidoepiglottopexy or tracheohyoidoepiglottopexy

Supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidopexy (CHP) or cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP) is a conservative laryngeal surgery tailored to T1b-T2-T3 glottic-supraglottic carcinomas. Tracheohyoidopexy (THP) and tracheohyoidoepiglottopexy (THEP) allow a chance of conservative surgery also for selected transglottic carcinomas. These techniques are comprehensively named reconstructive laryngectomies (RLs). Post RL laryngeal stenosis not due to carcinoma persistence or recurrence is an unusual occurrence. The aim of the present study has been to analyse retrospectively and describe the treatment of the cases of laryngeal stenosis after RL, which occurred in Vittorio Veneto Otolaryngological Department in a 6 year period. In the period between 1999 and 2004, 225 patients underwent RL in our Department. In 18 of them (8%) a laryngeal stenosis after RL was diagnosed. The same evidence was shown in 2 patients who underwent RL in other Institutions. All patients underwent CO₂ laser surgical treatment of the laryngeal stenosis. The 14 patients who underwent RL-CHEP, the 5 patients who underwent THEP and the patient who underwent CHP were treated on average with CO₂ laser 1.2 (range 1–2), 4.2 (range 2–7), and 2 times, respectively. Decannulation was possible in all patients but one after CO₂ laser treatment of the stenosis in a mean period of 3.4 months. Laryngeal stenoses after RLs can be successfully treated with CO₂ laser excision with a very limited morbility. The only reasonable contra-indication to CO₂ laser excision could be a cranio-caudal length of the laryngeal stenotic tract longer than 1 cm: in this occurrence diagnosed after THP or THEP, an external surgical approach could be preferred.     

Endoscopic resections of glottic and supraglottic carcinomas with the C02 laser

Clinical experiences with transoral CO₂ laser resections of glottic and supraglottic carcinomas are presented. 47 patients with variously sized supraglottic tumors and 114 patients with early glottic cancers were treated at the University of Kiel from 1979 to 1993. Although 10 patients with glottic tumors developed recurrences, curative treatment was possible with either repeat laser surgery (3 cases), irradiation (3 cases) or salvage laryngectomy (3 cases). One patient refused further treatment. Among the 30 patients with supraglottic lesions treated for cure 18 are currently alive and free of disease. 6 patients died with no evidence of disease, 2 patients died from secondary malignancies and 3 patients succumbed to their tumors. Present findings justify routine use of laser resections of laryngeal neoplasms, although patients must still be carefully selected for treatment.Presented at the combined meeting of the Society of Head and Neck Surgeons and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Paris, France, 25–28 May 1994     

Curative effect of chemotherapy,KTP lasers,and CO2 lasers combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of adult laryngeal hemangioma

Purpose: To evaluate three methods for treating adult laryngeal hemangiomas: conventional chemotherapy, CO₂ laser combined with chemotherapy, and KTP laser. And to identify risk factors that affected the prognosis of the lesions.

Method: A retrospective analysis was performed on the data from patients with adult laryngeal hemangiomas treated by one of three aforementioned methods, the curative efficacy, and safety of those methods was compared.

Results: All cases were confirmed by suspension micro-laryngoscope examination. Pre- and post-treatment clinical photographs were taken and the outcomes were graded. Thirty-eight patients in 48 different cases were enrolled in the study between June 2010 and June 2016, and some patients were treated more than once. The treatment efficacy of the KTP laser was higher than that of chemotherapy according to the Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA test; however, the ordinal logistic regression showed that the choice of surgical procedure did not affect the treatment results; only the size of the bases of the lesions affected the prognosis of adult laryngeal hemangiomas.

Conclusions: Pingyangmycin injection, KTP laser, and CO₂ laser combined with chemotherapy are safe and effective methods for the treatment of adult laryngeal hemangiomas. The size of base of the lesion affects the prognosis of the hemangiomas.     

The role of the CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser in the management of laryngotracheal stenosis: a survey of 100 cases

Over the last decade, improvement of CO₂ lasers with the microspot and ultrapulse technologies has broadened the indications for endoscopic CO₂-laser resection of benign laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS). This article reviews 100 patients treated solely by endoscopic means for a LTS. There were 47 grade III, 41 grade II and 12 grade I stenoses according to the Myer-Cotton classification. The postoperative results show that the improvement to a nearly normal (>80% luminal size) airway declines from 92% (11/12 patients) for grade I to 46% (19/41 patients) for grade II and 13% (6/47 patients) for grade III stenoses. When compared to open surgery for more severe grades of stenosis (31 grade IV, 66 grade III and 3 grade II stenoses), the results of the endoscopy group is much less favorable: 36% of patients in the endoscopy group versus 76% of patients in the open surgery group were rehabilitated to a normal respiration without exertional dyspnea and 38% versus 5% patients remained tracheotomy dependent. However, if strict selection and therapeutic criteria are respected, a significant number of grade I and II stenoses, and to a lesser degree of grade III stenoses, can be improved to a nearly normal airway by endoscopic means only. The endoscopic treatment is potentially less invasive and risky and only needs a short hospital stay. To try this as a first treatment modality in a selected group of patients is worthwhile, provided that this endoscopic treatment is not repeated a second time, if the stenosis recurs to its initial grade after a primary CO₂-laser treatment. Some guidelines for safe endoscopic treatment modalities with of the CO₂ laser, dilatation and/or stenting are proposed.     

One-year follow-up results of combined use of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser and cold instrumentation for Reinke’s edema surgery in professional voice users

The purpose of this study was to present our experience with combined use of CO₂ laser and cold instrumentation for Reinke’s edema surgery and to evaluate 1-year follow-up results of the technique in a series of professional voice users. Fifteen patients with Reinke’s edema who underwent microlaryngoscopic surgery were included. Videolaryngostroboscopy, perceptual and acoustic voice analyses were performed before and after surgery. During the 1-year follow-up, no recurrence of Reinke’s edema was encountered. Significant postoperative improvement was obtained in the quality of voice, in terms of GRBAS scores, Fo, jitter, shimmer and NHR. No evidence of laryngeal cancer was found on the histological examinations. Combined use of CO₂ laser and cold instrumentation provides a reliable and safe method for Reinke’s edema surgery, and cessation of smoking, voice rest and control of the laryngopharyngeal reflux contribute to the success of surgery. We consider that the removal of redundant mucosa of the vocal fold reduces the risk of the recurrence of Reinke’s edema and provides better quality of voice. However, it does not imply that our method is superior to others’, but this procedure constitutes an effective treatment of choice for Reinke’s edema patients, including professional voice users.     

Prognostic significance of surgical margins in transoral CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser microsurgery for T1–T4 pharyngo-laryngeal cancers

Histological affected or close margin is an adverse factor in conventional surgery of larynx-hypopharynx cancer. Our objective was to analyze the relevance of the margins in transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). A retrospective study of 357 consecutive patients with cancer of the larynx and hypopharynx (T1-T4) treated with TLM. Three possible margins were considered: tumor free, affected, and uncertain. An affected margin showed marked tumor infiltration. An uncertain margin was defined when the sample was insufficient, when it showed carbonization impeding accurate evaluation, or when tumor cells were less than 2 mm. Margins were free in 254 (71.1%) patients, affected in 64 (17.9%) and uncertain in 39 (10.9%). One hundred and three patients (28.9%) presented tumor relapse. The margins were associated with tumor relapse (P < 0.001), but were not significantly related to the tumor site (P = 0.307), the pT classification (P = 0.183), or the difficulty of surgical exposure (P = 0.427). Distant metastases were found in 4.7% of the patients with free margins, in 7.7% of those with uncertain margins, and in 14.1% with affected margins. These differences were statistically significant (P = 0.028). Tumor involvement of the surgical margin was associated with higher rates of local relapse, distant metastasis and the necessity of salvage surgery, together with a lower specific actuarial survival rate.     

二氧化碳激光与常规冷器械切除声带良性病变的疗效比较

目的 比较二氧化碳激光与常规冷器械切除声带良性病变的手术效果。方法 选取2017年12月—2020年12月于四川省会理市人民医院和四川省肿瘤医院接受治疗的200例良性声带病变患者,依据双盲法随机分为A组(100例)与B组(100例)。A组行常规冷器械法治疗,B组二氧化碳激光切除术治疗,术后对各组视频频闪、声学分析和语音障碍指数(VHI)进行评价。结果 两组结节、息肉、囊肿、黏膜白斑分布例数对比无明显差异(P>0.05)。两组术后3个月的闪烁噪声、嗓音抖动、基频均小于术前,术后3个月的最大发声时间大于术前。但两组术前和术后3个月的闪烁噪声、嗓音抖动、基频、最大发声时间对比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。两组患者术后3个月的VHI的躯体、功能、情感、总计得分均小于术前,但经比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 两种手术方法在处理良性声带病变方面都有良好的疗效,但各有其优缺点。     

Absence of GJB2 gene mutations, the GJB6 deletion (GJB6-D13S1830) and four common mitochondrial mutations in nonsyndromic genetic hearing loss in a South African population

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of mutations in the GJB2 gene, the GJB6-D13S1830 deletion and the four common mitochondrial mutations (A1555G, A3243G, A7511C and A7445G) in a South African population.

Methods

Using single-strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing for screening GJB2 mutation; Multiplex PCR Amplification for GJB6-D13S1830 deletion and Restriction Fragment-Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis for the four common mtDNA mutations. We screened 182 hearing impaired students to determine the frequency of these mutations in the population.

Results

None of the reported disease causing mutations in GJB2 nor any novel pathogenic mutations in the coding region were detected, in contrast to the findings among Caucasians. The GJB6-D13S1830 deletion and the mitochondrial mutations were not observed in this group.

Conclusion

These results suggest that GJB2 may not be a significant deafness gene among sub-Saharan Africans, pointing to other unidentified genes as responsible for nonsyndromic hearing loss in these populations.     

Prevalence of c.35delG and p.M34T mutations in the GJB2 gene in Estonia

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of c.35delG and p.M34T mutations in the GJB2 gene among children with early onset hearing loss and within a general population of Estonia.

Methods

Using an arrayed primer extension assay, we screened 233 probands with early childhood onset hearing loss for 107 different mutations in the GJB2 gene. We then looked for the two most common mutations, c.35delG and p.M34T, in a population of 998 consecutively born Estonian neonates to determine the frequency of these mutations in the general population.

Results

In 115 (49%) of the patients with early onset hearing loss, we found a mutation in at least one allele of the GJB2 gene. Seventy-three (31%) were homozygous for the c.35delG mutation, seven (3%) were homozygous for the p.M34T mutation, and five (2%) had c35delG/p.M34T compound heterozygosity. Other six identified mutations in GJB2 gene occurred rarely. Among the 998 anonymous newborn samples, we detected 45 who were heterozygous for c.35delG, 2 individuals homozygous for c.35delG, and 58 who were heterozygous for p.M34T. Additionally, we detected two c.35delG/p.M34T compound heterozygotes.

Conclusion

The most common GJB2 gene mutations in Estonian children with early onset hearing loss were c.35delG and p.M34T, with c.35delG accounting for 75% of GJB2 alleles. The carrier frequency for c.35delG and p.M34T in a general population of Estonia was 1 in 22 and 1 in 17, respectively, and was higher than in most other countries.