Margin photocoagulation in laser surgery for early glottic cancer: impact on disease local control.

OBJECTIVE: Assess the impact of surgical margin CO2 laser photocoagulation (LPC) on disease local control in patients submitted to endoscopic surgery for early glottic cancer in comparison with subjects treated with laser cordectomy without borders LPC.

STUDY DESIGN: Historical cohort study.

SETTING: Regional referral cancer center.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total 281 patients with early glottic cancer (T1a, T1b, T2) were treated with endoscopic laser cordectomy according to the European Laryngological Society Classification between 1999 and 2006. Among the patients, 123 (treated between 2003 and 2006) were submitted to postresection LPC of surgical margins (group 1), whereas 158 (operated between 1999 and 2002) underwent laser cordectomy without margin LPC (group 2). Median follow-up was 51 months (range, 36-101 months).

RESULTS: Local recurrence was found in 43 of 281 (15.30%) subjects (18 with T1a, 13 with T1b, 12 with T2). A significant difference in recurrence rate was found among patients treated with margin LPC in comparison with group 2 (P = .022). In particular, a lower recurrence rate in LPC patients was noticed in case of close (≤ 1 mm), nondefinable, and positive margins with infiltration of the superficial border. No significant difference was noticed in the case of negative edges (>1 mm) or involvement of either deep margin or both superficial and deep edges.

CONCLUSIONS: Surgical margin LPC increases disease local control in the case of close and superficial margin positivity. In such cases, no further treatment (surgical revision or radiotherapy) seems to be required in LPC patients. In case of deep border involvement, surgical revision or radiotherapy should be performed.