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.
Conclusion: With respect to local control and survival, results are comparable to conventional surgery.
Keywords: carcinoma posterior pharyngeal wall; hypopharynx; oncologic and functional outcomes; oropharynx; transoral laser microsurgery.
© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.