Outcomes of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and CO2 laser for early glottic cancer.
OBJECTIVE
In the present study, the voice and functional outcomes of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and CO2 laser for early glottic cancer were evaluated.


METHODS
One hundred sixty eight patients with early glottic cancer from October 2007 to June 2015 were included. Ninety-seven patients underwent RFA and seventy-one patients underwent CO2 laser. The operation time and score of visual analog scale (VAS) for pain on the second day after surgery were recorded. The electronic laryngoscopy was performed at one week, one month and three months of postoperation.


RESULTS
The operation time in RFA was shorter than that in CO2 laser (8.52±1.43min vs. 11.76±1.67min, P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in VAS scores between two operation methods (2.86±0.52 vs. 2.89±0.68, P>0.05). One month after operation, the mucosal recovery in RFA group was better than that in CO2 laser group (P<0.05). The alterations of acoustic parameters Jitter, Shimmer and HNR at three time points after operation showed statistical significances in both RFA and CO2 laser groups (P<0.05). The significant differences in acoustic parameters between two groups were also observed (P<0.05). There were no differences in three-year survival rate, local recurrence rate, recurrence rate with anterior commissure involvement and postoperative adhesion rate with anterior commissure between the patients with RFA and CO2 laser (P>0.05). No patient underwent tracheotomy and had symptoms of bucking, dyspnea, severe pain, hemoptysis and other serious complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Both RFA and CO2 laser are safe and effective for the treatment of early glottic cancer. RFA has the advantage of quick voice recovery, low mucosa injury and short operation time, which is worthy for wide clinical application.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China. Electronic address: yushuang816@163.com.
Yu
Y
Shuang
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China.
Chao
C
Li
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Oncology; Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Cancer Institute; National Clinical Research Center of Cancer; Tianjin, PR China.
Xuan
X
Zhou
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China.
Yongwang
Y
Huang
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Oncology; Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Cancer Institute; National Clinical Research Center of Cancer; Tianjin, PR China.
Lun
L
Zhang
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D005931:Glottis; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D061646:Operative Time; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014831:Voice