title: Oncologic results of transoral laser microsurgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the posterior pharyngeal wall.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate oncologic outcomes of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in patients with cancer of the oropharyngeal and/or hypopharyngeal posterior wall.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between August 1986 and December 2006, 25 patients (oropharyngeal n = 12; hypopharyngeal n = 13) were treated by primary CO2 laser microsurgery. Treatment was exclusively TLM with or without selective neck dissection in 12 cases (48%); TLM with adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy was performed in 13 cases (52%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were analyzed by using the Kaplan-Meier method. The median follow-up was 41.6 months. The 5-year overall, recurrence-free, and disease-specific survival rates for stages I/II were 36,5%, 60,0%, and 87,5% and for stages III/IVa 41,2%, 36,4%, and 56,3%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With respect to local control and survival, results are comparable to conventional surgery.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Göttingen, Germany.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Canis
authors: Hendrik A
authors: HA
authors: Wolff
authors: Friedrich
authors: F
authors: Ihler
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Matthias
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D054020:Lasers, Gas; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016879:Salvage Therapy
keywords: carcinoma posterior pharyngeal wall; hypopharynx; oncologic and functional outcomes; oropharynx; transoral laser microsurgery