Oncologic outcomes of transoral laser surgery of supraglottic carcinoma compared with a transcervical approach.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the oncologic effectiveness of transoral laser surgery of supraglottic cancer, we compared a group of patients treated with laser surgery, with a stage-matched group treated with a transcervical approach.

METHODS: Twenty-six patients who underwent laser surgery were retrospectively compared with 26 patients who underwent a transcervical approach. In both groups, the patients were classified as follows: 8% stage I, 23% stage II, 46% stage III, and 23% stage IV.

RESULTS: The 5-year disease-specific survival rates were 80% for the laser group and 72% for the transcervical group (p = .5). The ultimate 5-year laryngeal preservation rate was 86% in the laser group and 80% in the transcervical group (p = .6). In both arms, all patients classified as T1 and T2 who survived 5 years after the surgical treatment of tumors retained the larynx.

CONCLUSIONS: The oncologic results of transoral laser surgery of supraglottic cancer are equivalent to those of the classic transcervical approach.