Transoral CO2 laser treatment for Tis-T3 glottic cancer: the University of Brescia experience on 595 patients

BACKGROUND: Transoral CO(2) laser surgery has been accepted as a valuable therapeutic option for glottic cancer. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 595 patients. Five-year overall and disease-specific survivals, local control with laser, locoregional, regional control, and organ preservation rates were calculated. The impact of different variables was calculated by univariate analysis. RESULTS: Overall, disease-specific and disease-free survivals, local control with laser, locoregional, regional control, and organ preservation rates were 87.5%, 99%, 81.3%, 92.7%, 98.9%, 98.2%, and 97.1%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed a significant impact of pT category on local control with laser, organ preservation, locoregional and regional control, of endoscopic re-treatment for positive deep surgical margins on local control with laser and organ preservation, and recurrence after endoscopic re-treatment on local control with laser and organ preservation. CONCLUSION: This series confirms the good oncologic outcomes of endoscopic laser surgery for T(is), T(1), and selected T(2) and T(3) glottic tumors.