title: Transoral carbon dioxide laser ablation for cancer, tumors, and other diseases.
abstract: A carbon dioxide laser was used on 71 patients for the removal of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancers, premalignant lesions, benign tumors, or elongated soft palates. Evaluation of patient morbidity, speech, and swallowing, as well as survival data, suggests that the use of this modality for treatment of these conditions is highly successful, with excellent preservation of oral and pharyngeal function and minimal patient morbidity. Deep excisions of tumors that could lead to restricted motion of the tongue and/or jaw tended to have an adverse effect on both speech and swallowing. Immediate reconstruction should be considered, especially for defects created by excision of large tumors in the anterior oral cavity or in the lateral oropharyngeal wall cancers. Multimodality cancer therapy should be considered for large oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers that have been treated by carbon dioxide laser excision.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Chicago-Pritzker School of Medicine, IL 60637.
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Panje
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karnell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents