title: Potential role of transoral laser surgery for larynx carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The treatment of larynx carcinoma is not settled to date. This prospective study evaluates the potential role of transoral laser surgery (TLS) for larynx carcinoma in a large series of unselected patients from a single institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 504 consecutive patients with previously untreated carcinoma of the larynx were seen from 1986-1994. Their treatment modalities and results were prospectively evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TLS was used in 290 patients (58%), total laryngectomy in 130 (26%), conventional partial laryngectomies in 31 (6%), and radiotherapy in 34 (7%). Nineteen (4%) had no curative treatment. Uncorrected actuarial survival for all patients with glottic carcinoma stages I and II treated with laser surgery (n = 202) was 80.2%, cause specific survival 96.7%, and local control 85.8%. Uncorrected actuarial survival for all patients with supraglottic carcinoma stages I and II treated with laser surgery (n = 40) was 49.0%, cause specific survival 78.6%, and local control 87.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TLS was the most important single treatment modality in this large series of unselected patients. It is a safe and time- and cost-effective alternative to radiotherapy for early stage larynx carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Cologne, Germany. hans.eckel@uni-koeln.de
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Eckel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jungehülsing
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Damm
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vössing
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005931:Glottis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000379:methods; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide