Transoral laser microsurgery for locally advanced (T3-T4a) supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma: Sixteen years of experience.

Background: Controversy exists regarding treatment of advanced laryngeal cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oncologic and functional outcomes of T3 to T4a supraglottic squamous carcinomas treated with transoral laser microsurgery (TLM).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis from an SPSS database. Primary outcomes were: locoregional control, overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), laryngectomy-free survival, and function-preservation rates. Secondary objectives were: rate of tracheostomies and gastrostomies according to age. Risk factors for local control and larynx preservation were also evaluated.

Results: One hundred fifty-four consecutive patients were chosen for this study. Median follow-up was 40.7 + /- 32.8 months. Five and 10-year OS, DSS, and laryngectomy-free survival were 55.6% and 47%, 67.6% and 58.6%, and 75.2% and 59.5%, respectively. Paraglottic involvement was an independent factor for larynx preservation. Six patients (3.9%) needed a definitive tracheostomy, a gastrostomy, or both. The gastrostomy rate was higher in the group of patients above 65 years of age (p = .03). Five-year laryngectomy-free survival with preserved function was 74.5%.

Conclusion: TLM constitutes a true alternative for organ preservation in locally advanced supraglottic carcinomas with good oncologic and functional outcomes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1050-1057, 2016.