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.