Higher laryngeal preservation rate after CO2 laser surgery compared with radiotherapy in T1a glottic laryngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Clinical outcome of endoscopic CO(2) laser surgery and radiotherapy in early-stage glottic laryngeal carcinoma is difficult to compare because of differences in treatment selection and patient groups. Therefore, we compared local control, overall survival, and laryngeal preservation in a homogenous group of patients with T1a glottic carcinoma with normal/diminished mucosal wave treated with either CO(2) laser surgery or radiotherapy.

METHODS: Retrospective survival analysis was performed on 100 patients with T1a glottic carcinoma treated with CO(2) laser surgery (n = 49) or radiotherapy (n = 51), diagnosed at the University Medical Center Groningen between 1990 and 2004.

RESULTS: No significant differences in local control and overall survival were found. Ultimate 5-year laryngeal preservation was significantly better in the CO(2) laser surgery group (95% vs 77%, p = .043).

CONCLUSION: Patients with T1a glottic carcinoma with normal/diminished mucosal wave treated with CO(2) laser surgery had a significantly better laryngeal preservation rate than patients treated with radiotherapy.