CO2 laser surgery for verrucous carcinoma of the larynx.
BACKGROUND
The verrucous carcinoma (VC) is a low grade malignant tumor. Treatment strategies of VC of the larynx are topics of the ongoing discussion, and the role of the carbon dioxide laser therapy in the management remains unclear to date.


METHODS
From 1986 to 1995, 21 patients with glottic VC were treated with transoral carbon dioxide laser surgery. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 122 months (mean 52).


RESULTS
In T1 lesions, a complete removal of the tumor was possible with laser-cordectomy in ten cases and with extended laser cordectomy in four cases. In seven patients suffering from T2 carcinoma, a partial laser laryngectomy was performed. There was no tumor-related death in this series. No patient required laryngectomy or radiotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The results presented here are superior to those previously reported with radiotherapy. They add further support to the observation that surgery is the better treatment option for VC of the larynx. Based on the results of this study, recommended treatment for T1 and T2 VC is oncologic CO2 laser surgery in combination with a meticulous follow up for early recognition of local recurrence.
Damm
M
M
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, University of Cologne, Germany.
Eckel
H E
HE
Schneider
D
D
Arnold
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018289:Carcinoma, Verrucous / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure