title: [Results of transoral laser resection in T1-2 oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinomas].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) has led to an expansion of the therapeutic modalities for malignomas of head and neck. This study aims to assess the oncologic results and functional outcomes of TLM in early carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study of 947 cases with T1-2 carcinomas primarily managed with laser surgery between 1979 and 2007. All cases were assessed for survival, with respect to location, T and N classification and status of surgical margins. Cases were additionally evaluated for incidence of major complications and retention of laryngeal and pharyngeal function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Disease specific survival was 78.6% for oropharyngeal, 68.9% for hypopharyngeal, 82.3% for supraglottic und 95.2% for glottis carcinomas. Survival estimates were found to be significantly better for cases without cervical metastasis and with negative surgical margins. A low rate of major complications (4.7%) were noted. 1% of the patients had a permanent dysfunction of swallowing and 1.1 % needed a permanent tracheostomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser surgery appears to be a very effective management modality for small carcinomas of the head and neck as long as clear surgical margins can be achieved. This technique offers acceptable oncologic results with a low incidence of complications and satisfactory retention of function.
authors.affiliation: Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Klinik, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. heinrich.iro@uk-erlangen.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iro
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mantsopoulos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zenk
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Waldfahrer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Psychogios
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies