title: Functional outcomes and laryngectomy-free survival after transoral CO₂ laser microsurgery for stage 1 and 2 glottic carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the functional and oncologic outcomes of transoral CO₂ laser microsurgery relative to radiotherapy for early-stage glottic carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Functional analysis: population-based, prospective, nonrandomized consecutive series of stage 1 and 2 glottic carcinoma treated with laser surgery (n  =  54) or radiotherapy (n  =  25). Oncologic analysis: population-based, historical cohort comparing laser surgery (n  =  54) and radiotherapy (n  =  76).
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic cancer centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Functional results were prospectively collected prior to treatment and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months following treatment using validated performance scales assessing general level of function, speech, and swallowing. Oncologic results were collected from a larger cohort from the cancer registry of CancerCare MB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laser surgery resulted in a voice that was less likely to be understood all the time (Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer Patients: understandability score < 100; OR  =  12.2; p  =  .03) and a higher likelihood of having a Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10) score of 10 or more (OR  =  16.2; p  =  .001). Five-year laryngectomy-free survival rates for laser versus radiation were 87 versus 76% (p  =  .16). Subset analysis revealed that stage 1 5-year laryngeal preservation rates for laser (n  =  51) versus radiation (n  =  46) were 100 versus 86% (p  =  .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a higher likelihood of hoarseness after laser surgery, but the severity of this handicap is mild in most patients. Laser microsurgery results in excellent laryngeal preservation rates, which may exceed those of radiation.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Manitoba.
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Kujath
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Kerr
authors: Candace
authors: C
authors: Myers
authors: Femi
authors: F
authors: Bammeke
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Lambert
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Cooke
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Sutherland
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005931:Glottis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007825:Laryngectomy; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D009055:Mouth; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology