title: Effect of repeated laser microsurgical operations on laryngeal cancer prognosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether repeated sessions of transoral CO(2) laser microsurgery (TLM) aiming to achieve clear histologic margins carry a negative effect on the prognosis of laryngeal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective evaluation of 763 cases that underwent primary TLM treatment for laryngeal cancer. Cases were compared for overall survival and local control rates with respect to status of surgical margins and number of procedures necessary to achieve these margins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were noted among cases with negative surgical margins regardless of the number of procedures necessary to achieve these margins. On the other hand, positive margins at the end of surgical treatment carried significant negative prognostic effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prognostic effect of negative surgical margins in TLM for laryngeal cancer is significant regardless of the number of procedures required to obtain such margins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Erlangen - Nuremberg Medical School, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Karatzanis
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Waldfahrer
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Psychogios
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hornung
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zenk
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Velegrakis
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult