Comparative study on chronic tissue damage after cordectomies using either CO2 laser or microdissection electrodes.

Background: This study compared the chronic damage to laryngeal soft tissues produced by microdissection electrodes and a CO(2) laser after cordectomies.

Methods: We included patients who were operated on to treat T1 glottic carcinomas and needed a second laryngeal surgery. We examined specimens from 6 patients each operated on with a CO(2) laser or microdissection electrodes. The specimens were processed using Masson trichrome. We studied the grade and level of collagenization and analyzed relationships with age, interval between surgical procedures, and device.

Results: Control samples showed low collagenization. Second samples showed moderate collagenization, which was similar regardless of whether microdissection electrodes or a CO(2) laser was used. A relationship was observed between the level of collagenization and interval between surgeries, irrespective of the surgical procedure used.

Conclusions: The chronic vocal fold tissue damage produced by a CO(2) laser and microdissection electrodes was similar. In our series, the vocal fold scar was completed between weeks 12 and 20.