Three-Dimensional Map of Isoprognostic Zones in Glottic Cancer Treated by Transoral Laser Microsurgery as a Unimodal Treatment Strategy

Depth of Invasion Assessment in Laryngeal Glottic Carcinoma: A Preoperative Imaging Approach for Prognostication

OBJECTIVE

The prognostic value of depth of invasion (DOI) in oral squamous cell cancer carcinoma and cutaneous melanoma is well established, while there is a lack of reports investigating the role of DOI in laryngeal cancer. This study aims to explore the association of glottic cancer DOI with other established pathological risk factors and nodal metastasis and evaluate the feasibility of measuring DOI preoperatively using tomographic imaging.

METHODS

The medical records of glottic cancer patients treated between 2015 and 2020 in a single tertiary referral center were screened retrospectively. Pathologically measured DOI (pDOI) value was also reviewed and registered. Preoperative computer tomography (CT) was used to obtain the radiological DOI (rDOI) measured by two dedicated radiologists. Their inter-rated agreement was assessed and the correlation between pDOI and rDOI was calculated. pDOI association with the main pathology report features was assessed with univariable analysis. Cox univariable and multivariable models were used to explore the role of pDOI on survival.

RESULTS

Ninety-one patients had pDOI data available, of which 59 also had rDOI data. A strong concordance between the two radiologists was found (concordance correlation coefficient = 0.96); rDOI and pDOI were highly and significantly correlated (R = 0.85; p < 0.001). pDOI was significantly higher in patients with perineural invasion (PNI; p < 0.001), lymphovascular invasion (LVI; p < 0.001), and nodal metastasis (p < 0.001). pDOI was associated with disease-free survival at univariable analysis (p = 0.04) while it did not show a significant impact (p = 0.10) at multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSION

Glottic carcinoma DOI correlates with PNI, LVI, and nodal metastasis and it can be reliably assessed in a preoperative setting using CT imaging.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3 Laryngoscope, 134:3230-3237, 2024.

The impact of margins in laryngeal cancer patients treated with transoral laser microsurgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

In laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) treated with transoral laser microsurgery (TOLMS), the status of margins significantly affected local control. When a positive or close margin is present, there is no ubiquitous consensus regarding further treatments. The rationale of the present systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the survival impact of the status of the margins in patients affected by LSCC treated with TOLMS.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Inclusion criteria were: patients affected by LSCC, staged according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging System and treated by TOLMS without any previous treatment; margins status (close, positive, negative) and the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of overall survival, disease-specific survival, and disease-free survival has to be reported.

RESULTS

Nine studies were deemed eligible for the qualitative analysis, and 3 for the quantitative analysis to investigate the association between margin status and OS. The cumulative number of patients was 3130. The sample size ranged from 96 to 747 patients. The follow-up period ranged from 0 to 201 months. The meta-analysis results show that positive margins have an aHR of 1.30 yet with CI range (0.56 to 2.97).

CONCLUSIONS

Our current meta-analysis results are unable to definitively assess the real impact of resection margins on OS. Few authors provide accurate data regarding position and types of margins. Further prospective or high-quality studies are required.

Twenty questions from the surgeon to the radiologist to better plan an open partial horizontal laryngectomy

Open partial horizontal laryngectomies (OPHLs) represent a valuable therapeutic option for tumors of the intermediate T-category and, in selected cases, for locally advanced tumors with low-volume extra-laryngeal extension. The eligibility of patients treated with this type of surgery has increased with the introduction of the modular approach to OPHL planning. This strategy follows the introduction of the classification proposed by the European Laryngological Society, based on the extent of horizontal resection. Optimization of the selection is the result of a meticulous work-up process involving close cooperation between experienced surgeons and radiologists, followed by final quality control by pathologists. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are study methods whose pearls and pitfalls are well known, especially when performed at a high level of expertise. In this paper, based on the experience of two high-volume centers, a checklist of 20 questions addressed by the surgeon to the radiologist before planning an OPHL was proposed. Considerations regarding case selection are reported for each of the questioned parameters. A very simple question-and-answer process is easy to understand and mainly addressed by less experienced colleagues who wish to increase their knowledge and skills in performing this type of surgery.

Imaging for Laryngeal Malignancies: Guidelines for Clinicians

Radiology has always been an important component in the evaluation of patients with head and neck cancers. Images that are appropriately acquired and systematically interpreted provide comprehensive information on local, regional, and distant disease extent. This impacts treatment decisions for primary or recurrent disease, and aids in prognostication and patient counselling. The recent significant advances in technology and instrumentation for treatment of head neck cancers have taken place in parallel with an increasing sophistication in radiodiagnostic systems. This is especially true for laryngeal neoplasms where there is now greater focus on functional outcomes and personalised treatment, thus expanding the scope and value of imaging.

PURPOSE

To formulate evidence-based guidelines on imaging for cancers of the larynx, from diagnosis and staging to monitoring of disease control after completion of treatment.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A multidisciplinary analysis of current guidelines and published studies on the topic was performed.

RESULTS

On the basis of evidence gathered, guidelines were drawn up; optimal suggestions were included for low-resource situations.

CONCLUSION

These guidelines are intended as an aid to all clinicians dealing with patients of laryngeal cancers. It is hoped that these will be instrumental in facilitating patient care, and in improving outcomes.

Laryngeal function-preserving of frontolateral vertical partial laryngectomy (FLVPL) for selected T4a glottic cancer with thyroid cartilage invasion adherence to the anterior commissure: an innovative attempt

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy in selected T4a glottic cancer (thyroid cartilage invasion adherence to the anterior commissure) treated with frontolateral vertical partial laryngectomy (FLVPL) and laryngeal framework reconstruction using titanium mesh.

METHODS

Six patients with the limited T4a glottic cancer with thyroid cartilage destruction adherence to the anterior commissure, underwent FLVPL from 2009 to 2016 in Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center. All patients were followed up postoperatively.

RESULTS

All patients comprised radical tumor resection and favorable functional outcomes, and no aspiration and laryngeal stenosis were observed. According to postoperative pathology, four patients should go through postsurgical radiotherapy with a mean dose of 66 Gy. But one of them refused to undergo postoperative radiotherapy, who observed local recurrence in postcricoid area underwent total laryngectomy (TL) and ipsilateral selected neck dissection in post-surgery two year. During follow-up period, all patients were still alive, and five patients without local recurrence and distant metastases.

CONCLUSION

FLVPL and laryngeal framework reconstruction using titanium mesh is one viable surgical procedure to obtain adequate oncologic and functional outcomes.

Transoral laser microsurgery in locally advanced laryngeal cancer: Prognostic impact of anterior versus posterior compartments

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the importance of larynx compartments in the prognosis of T3-T4a laryngeal cancer treated with transoral laser microsurgery.

METHODS

Two hundred and two consecutive pT3-T4a larynx carcinomas. Pre-epiglottic space involvement, anterior and posterior paraglottic space (PGS) involvement, vocal cord, and arytenoid mobility were determined. Local control with laser (LC), overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and laryngectomy-free survival (LFS) were evaluated.

RESULTS

The lowest LC was found in tumors with fixed arytenoid. In the multivariate analysis, positive margins (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.289 [0.085-0.979]) and anterior (HR = 0.278 [0.128-0.605]) and posterior (HR = 0.269 [0.115-0.630]) PGS invasion were independent factors of a reduced LC. Anterior (HR = 3.613 [1.537-8.495]) and posterior (HR = 5.195 [2.167-12.455]) PGS involvement were independent factors of total laryngectomy. Five-year OS, DSS, and LFS rates were 63.9%, 77.5%, and 77.5%, respectively. Patients with posterior PGS presented a reduced 5-year LFS.

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor classification according to laryngeal compartmentalization depicts strong correlation with LC and LFS.

Salvage carbon dioxide transoral laser microsurgery for laryngeal cancer after (chemo)radiotherapy: a European Laryngological Society consensus statement

Purpose

To provide expert opinion and consensus on salvage carbon dioxide transoral laser microsurgery (CO₂ TOLMS) for recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) after (chemo)radiotherapy [(C)RT].

Methods

Expert members of the European Laryngological Society (ELS) Cancer and Dysplasia Committee were selected to create a dedicated panel on salvage CO₂ TOLMS for LSCC. A series of statements regarding the critical aspects of decision-making were drafted, circulated, and modified or excluded in accordance with the Delphi process.

Results

The expert panel reached full consensus on 19 statements through a total of three sequential evaluation rounds. These statements were focused on different aspects of salvage CO₂ TOLMS, with particular attention on preoperative diagnostic work-up, treatment indications, postoperative management, complications, functional outcomes, and follow-up.

Conclusion

Management of recurrent LSCC after (C)RT is challenging and is based on the need to find a balance between oncologic and functional outcomes. Salvage CO₂ TOLMS is a minimally invasive approach that can be applied to selected patients with strict and careful indications. Herein, a series of statements based on an ELS expert consensus aimed at guiding the main aspects of CO₂ TOLMS for LSCC in the salvage setting is presented.

Introduction of a New Pathology Workup Protocol for Glottic Cancer Treated With Transoral Laser Microsurgery (TLM): Prospective Analysis of Oncological Outcomes and Matched Case-Control Study

Background/Purpose

The value of margin status after TLM for glottic cancer is debatable, due to difficulties in specimen orientation and margin analysis. To reduce these difficulties, we recently introduced a standardized protocol of oriented fixation of TLM specimens. This proved feasible and resulted in high margin evaluability rates and a decreased rate of false positive deep margins, when compared to a historical TLM cohort. For the patients whose specimens were processed according to this protocol, we prospectively analyzed oncological outcomes, identified prognostic factors and assessed the influence of the protocol introduction on outcomes compared with a historical TLM cohort.

Methods

Ninety-six patients with glottic malignancies treated with TLM were included. Resection specimens were processed according to the new protocol. Descriptive statistics and survival analyses were used to determine oncological outcomes. To assess the effect of the protocol introduction on outcomes, a matched-case-control analysis was performed, using a historical TLM-cohort as controls. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze prognostic effects of patient and treatment characteristics, including the pathology protocol introduction, on overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), disease-free survival (DFS) and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS).

Results

Two-year outcomes were favorable: 88.5% OS, 97.0% DSS, and 87.6% LRFS. At multivariable analysis, the presence of multiple positive superficial margins was a negative prognosticator for OS (HR 4.102) and increasing cT classification proved a negative prognosticator for DFS (HR 2.828) and LRFS (HR 2.676). Matched case-control analysis did not reveal a significant difference in oncological outcomes between cohorts. Deep margin status had a strong differential effect for DFS (p-value for interaction = 0.0205) and for LRFS (p-value for interaction = 0.0176) between cohorts, indicating a prognostic effect of deep margin status on both outcomes in the current cohort, but not in the historical cohort.

Discussion/Conclusion

The introduction of a new standardized technique of oriented fixation of TLM specimens did not affect oncological outcomes when compared to a historical TLM cohort, but assigned a significant prognostic effect to deep margin status for DFS and LRFS, facilitating the decision making process with regards to planning of second-look procedures, administration of adjuvant radiotherapy or determination of follow-up intensity.

Prognostic comparison of transoral laser microsurgery for early glottic cancer with or without anterior commissure involvement: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) has gradually gained approval in the treatment of early glottic cancer. However, the oncological outcomes of TLM for glottic cancer with anterior commissure (AC) involvement are still a controversial topic. We aimed to systematically review the literature on glottic cancer (Tis-T2) with patients who received TLM as first choice therapy and to evaluate several prognostic outcomes in patients with or without AC involvement.

METHODS

A systematic literature retrieval was conducted in PubMed, Medline (Ovid) and Web of Science. Risk ratio (RR) between AC involvement (AC+) or without AC involvement (AC-) was assessed and 95% confidence interval(95%CI) was calculated, which was performed on RevMan 5.3.

RESULTS

A total of 20 literatures were included when comparing the local recurrence (LR) rate of patients with or without AC involvement, and the results suggested LR matters in group AC+ over group AC- (RR = 2.39, 95%CI = 1.99-2.86, p < 0.00001). The 5-year overall survival(5yOS) rate included 10 studies, and there was no significant difference between AC+ and AC- (RR = 0.98, 95%CI = 0.93-1.02, p = 0.35). The laryngeal preservation rate (LPR) of AC+ was lower than that of AC- (RR = 0.97, 95%CI = 0.94-1.00, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that the prognosis of early glottic cancer with AC involvement is more likely to have higher local recurrence and lower LPR but no statistical difference in 5yOS rate.

Impact of resection margin status and revision transoral laser microsurgery in early glottic cancer: analysis of organ preservation and local disease control on a cohort of 153 patients

Introduction

Transoral laser microsurgery represents the treatment of choice for early glottic cancer. Its use and effectiveness are mainly related to laryngeal exposure and deep extension of tumor. Histopathologic assessment of surgical margin presents a main issue about transoral laser microsurgery and complete oncological excision.

Objective

The aim was to analyze the impact of revision surgery on organ preservation and local disease control in patients with early glottic cancer treated by transoral laser microsurgery.

Methods

We carried out a retrospective study on a cohort of 153 patients with early glottic cancer (Tis, T1, T2) treated by transoral laser microsurgery. Resection margins were classified as follows: “free” if macroscopic margin-tumor distance was at least 2 mm, as “close” if it was less than 2 mm and “positive” if the margin was involved by carcinoma. Patients were divided into two groups: patients with free resection margins (Group A) and patients with positive, close or not-evaluable resection margins (Group B). Group A (36) underwent periodic followup. Group B (117) underwent a second look laser CO₂ 2 months after surgery. Fifteen patients of Group A with suspected persistence of carcinoma during followup underwent a second laser resection after a time interval of 4–8 months after first surgery. Overall survival, disease-free survival, disease-specific survival, ultimate local control with laser alone and organ preservation rates were estimated.

Results

Five-year overall survival rate and 5-year disease-specific survival were 100% in both groups. The five-year laryngeal preservation rate was 100% in Group A and 95.2% in Group B. Five-year disease-free survival was 92.15% and 5-year ultimate local control with laser alone in 92.15% of patients.

Conclusion

This study has demonstrated that revision Transoral Laser Microsurgery is able to confirm the oncological radicality in most cases, even in the case of positive, close or non-evaluable margins. Considering our results, according to our experience, the second look with CO₂ laser is a therapeutic strategy to consider, even in the case of close or non-evaluable as well as positive margins.

Laryngeal Compartmentalization Does Not Affect the Prognosis of T3-T4 Laryngeal Cancer Treated by Upfront Total Laryngectomy

A picture is emerging in which advanced laryngeal cancers (LCs) are potentially not homogeneous and may be characterized by subpopulations which, if identified, could allow selection of patients amenable to organ preservation treatments in contrast to those to be treated with total laryngectomy (TL). This work aims to analyze a multicentric cohort of T3-T4a LCs treated by upfront TL, investigating the clinical and pathological features that can best predict oncologic outcomes. A total of 149 previously untreated patients who underwent TL for T3-T4a LC at four institutions were analyzed. Survival and disease-control were considered as the main outcomes. A secondary end-point was the identification of covariates associated with nodal status, investigating also the tumor thickness. T and N categories were significantly associated with both overall and disease-specific survival. The number of positive nodes and tracheal involvement were associated with loco-regional failure; post-cricoid area invasion and extra-nodal extension with distant failure. Posterior laryngeal compartment involvement was not a significant prognostic feature, by either univariable and multivariable analyses. These results support the conclusion that laryngeal compartmentalization has no impact on survival in patients treated by upfront TL and the current TNM staging system remains a robust prognosticator in advanced LC.

T1b Glottic Tumor and Anterior Commissure Involvement: Is the Transoral CO2 Laser Microsurgery a Safe Option?

OBJECTIVES

Transoral CO₂ laser therapy represents the treatment of choice for early-stage laryngeal tumors. The anterior commissure involvement (ACI) is related to a worse local control and a lower rates of organ preservation. The objective of this study is to analyze the differences in survival, local control, and organ preservation in T1b glottic patients according to the presence of ACI.

METHODS

Observational prospective study in pT1b treated with transoral CO₂ laser between 2009 and 2014.

RESULTS

Forty patients (37 male and 3 female) with a mean age of 66.43 ± 8.16 years were recruited. Anterior commissure involvement was present in 70% of the patients. The 5-year specific cause survival was 91.66%, with 32.50% of local recurrences. Laryngeal preservation was 80%, being lower in the group with local recurrence (P < .000). The involvement of the anterior commissure does not influence the organ preservation (P = .548), the appearance of local recurrences (P = .391), or the survival (P = .33).

CONCLUSIONS

Transoral CO₂ laser therapy is an effective and reproducible treatment for early-stage laryngeal tumors. The results obtained are similar to previous studies, although they present discrepancies in relation to the role of the ACI. Prospective randomized trials are required focusing also on the patients' quality of life and functional outcome in order to clarify the role of the ACI and the need to implement changes in its evaluation, staging, and evolution.

T1 Glottic Cancer: Does Anterior Commissure Involvement Worsen Prognosis?

Radiotherapy (RT) and transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) represent the main treatment modalities for early glottic carcinoma. Local failure is notoriously more frequent in T1b glottic cancer in comparison to T1a and T2 tumors. In this scenario, the role of anterior commissure (AC) involvement is still controversial. The aim of the present study was therefore to determine its potential prognostic power in worsening patients’ survival and outcomes. We categorized different tumor glottic fold locations with respect to the involvement of one (T1a) or both vocal cords, with or without AC involvement. We analyzed a retrospective cohort of 74 patients affected by Stage I glottic cancer, treated between 2011 and 2018 by TLM or RT at a single academic institution. There were 22 T1a (30%) and 52 T1b (70%) cases. The median follow-up period was 30 months (mean, 32.09 ± 18.738 months; range, 12–79). Three-year overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and laryngectomy-free survival (LFS) were compared according to tumor location, extension, and cT category. According to both uni- and multivariate analyses, an increased risk for recurrence in T1b with AC involvement and T1a tumors was 7.31 and 9.45 times, respectively (p-values of 0.054 and 0.030, respectively). Among the 17 recurrences, T1b with AC involvement experienced 15 tumor relapses (88.2%), thus significantly affecting both the RFS and LFS in comparison to the other two tumor subcategories (T1a, p = 0.028 and T1b without AC involvement, p = 0.043). The deteriorating prognosis in the presence of AC involvement likely reflects the need to power the hazard consistency and discrimination of the T1b category when associated with such a risk factor, thus deserving an independent T category.

Imaging Accuracy in Preoperative Staging of T3-T4 Laryngeal Cancers

Background: Preoperative imaging impacts treatment planning and prognosis in laryngeal cancers. We investigated the accuracy of standard computed tomography (CT) in evaluating tumor invasions at critical glottic areas. Methods: CT scans of glottic cancers treated by partial or total laryngectomy between Jan 2015 and Aug 2019 were reviewed to assess levels of tumor invasion at critical glottic subsites. CT accuracy in the identification of tumor extensions was determined against the gold standard of histopathological analysis of surgical samples. Results: This study included 64 patients. In the anterior commissure, CT showed high rates of false positives at all levels (sensitivity 56.2–70%, specificity 87.8–92.3%); in the anterior vocal fold, it overestimated the deep invasion (19.5% specificity, 90.3% sensitivity), while it underestimated the extralaryngeal spread (63.6% sensitivity, 98.1% specificity). In the posterior paraglottic space (pPGS), false negative results were more frequent for superficial extensions (25% sensitivity, 95.8% specificity) and deep invasions (58.8% sensitivity, 82.3% specificity). Shorter disease-specific and disease-free survivals were associated with pStage IV (p: 0.045 and 0.008) and with the pathological involvement of pPGS (p: 0.045 and 0.015). Conclusions: Negative prognostic correlation of pPGS involvement was confirmed on histopathological data. CT staging did not provide a satisfactory prognostic stratification and should be complemented with magnetic resonance imaging.

The prognostic value of anterior commissure involvement in T1 glottic cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The anterior commissure is considered a laryngeal subsite, but it is not taken into account in the current T-staging system. The impact of anterior commissure involvement (ACI) on the oncologic outcomes of T1 glottic tumors has not been well defined and remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of ACI in the prognosis of T1 glottic tumors.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was performed by including studies published up to July 2019. Studies were selected if they had investigated the local control rate (LCR) at 5 years of clinical stage I (T1 and N0) glottic squamous cell carcinoma with and without ACI. The difference in LCR at 5 years between T1 glottic tumors without and with ACI was evaluated.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis showed that the difference in LCR at 5 years between T1 glottic tumors without and with ACI is 12% (95% confidence interval: 8%-16%, p < 0,0001, I² = 34.81%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study pointed out that the anterior commissure involvement is a negative prognostic factor in LCR at 5 years for T1 glottic tumors. Our results suggest the need to consider ACI in the T staging of glottic tumors. Laryngoscope, 130:1932-1940, 2020.

Survival and Prognostic Factors for Outcome after Radiotherapy for T2 Glottic Carcinoma

Background: Local recurrence after radiotherapy for T2 glottic carcinoma remains an issue and identifying patients at risk for relapse is, therefore, important. This study aimed to assess the oncological outcomes and prognostic factors in a consecutive series of patients treated with radiotherapy for T2N0 glottic carcinoma. Methods: Patients with T2N0 glottic carcinoma treated with radiotherapy were included in this retrospective study. Five- and ten-year local control (LC), overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and laryngeal preservation (LP) rates were calculated with the Kaplan–Meier method. The impact of prognostic variables was evaluated with the log-rank test. Results: Ninety-four patients were included for analysis. LC, OS, DSS, and LP rates were 70.5, 63.7, 86.0, and 74.7%, respectively at five years and 65.8, 41.0, 75.6, and 72.4% at 10 years. In total, 46 scans were included in the analyses. Vertical involvement of the anterior commissure on imaging showed a significant impact on LC. Conclusions: In accordance with previously described surgical risk factors, we identified vertical involvement of the anterior commissure on imaging as a prognostic factor for radiation failure.

Involvement of the Anterior Commissure in Early Glottic Cancer (Tis-T2): A Review of the Literature

Background: The impact of the anterior commissure (AC) involvement on prognosis in laryngeal cancer remains a topic of discussion with inconsistent results in the literature. This review examines AC involvement as a prognostic factor in patients with early glottic cancer (Tis-T2) treated with radiotherapy or transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). Methods: A systematic literature search was performed. Due to the heterogeneity of the data, no meta-analysis was implemented. Weighted averages were calculated if the appropriate data were extractable. Results: Thirty-four studies on radiotherapy and 23 on TLM fit the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies for both radiotherapy (67.7%) and TLM (75.0%) did not report a significant impact on oncological outcomes. Weighted averages were slightly lower in patients with AC involvement. The two studies that applied a more detailed classification showed a significant impact on the amount of AC involvement. Conclusions: Binary variables (yes/no) for AC involvement lead to inconsistent results. Studies that use more detailed classifications of the AC show that there is a significant impact on the outcome. To further elucidate the role of the AC, detailed stratification of tumors involving the AC need to be investigated in further studies for both treatment modalities.

Could the infiltration of the thyroarytenoid muscle define the pT2 glottic carcinoma?

BACKGROUND

The involvement of the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle by glottic cancer may be related to an impaired vocal cord mobility, which is classified as cT2 disease. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the prognostic significance of TA muscle involvement in early glottic cancer treated with transoral laser microsurgery (TLM).

METHODS

A review was conducted on a cohort of 209 patients consecutively treated with TLM for early glottic carcinoma. Univariate analysis was used to examine the prognostic meaning of clinical and pathological parameters.

RESULTS

The statistical analysis showed that TA muscle infiltration correlated significantly with a worse prognosis in terms of recurrence rate and disease-free survival, and this was confirmed even in the subcohort with pT1a glottic cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Our preliminary findings suggest that it could be considered as a criterion for upstaging a glottic cancer from pT1 to pT2.

CO2 Transoral Laser Microsurgery in Benign, Premalignant and Malignant (Tis, T1, T2) Lesion of the Glottis. A Literature Review

Carbon Dioxide transoral laser microsurgery represents a reliable option for the treatment of early glottic carcinoma (Tis–T2), with good functional and oncological outcomes, nowadays representing one of the main options in larynx preservation protocols. The development and improvement of laser devices means surgeons are able to use more precise instruments compared with classic cold dissection in laser-assisted phonosurgery. Secondary effects on voice, swallowing, or quality of life as well as complications have been well documented. Also, with the introduction of a new proposal for staging systems following the principle of the three-dimensional map of isoprognostic zones, the use of narrow-band imaging in clinical evaluation and intraoperative, and the implementation of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance during preoperative evaluation, the development of new tools to improve surgical quality and preliminary reports regarding the use of carbon dioxide laser in transoral robotic surgery suggests an exciting future for this technique.

A Multidisciplinary Team Guided Approach to the Management of cT3 Laryngeal Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis of 104 Cases

The optimal treatment for T3 laryngeal carcinoma (LC) is still a matter of debate. Different therapeutic options are available: Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM), open partial horizontal laryngectomies (OPHLs), total laryngectomy (TL), and organ preservation protocols (radiation therapy (RT) or chemo-radiation (CRT)). This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate oncologic outcomes of 104 T3 LCs treated by surgery or non-surgical approaches from January 2011 to December 2016 at a single academic tertiary referral center. Each case was evaluated by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) devoted to the management of head and neck cancers. We divided the cohort into two subgroups: Group A, surgical treatment (TLM, OPHLs, TL) and Group B, non-surgical treatment (RT, CRT). For the entire cohort, two- and five-year overall survival (OS) rates were 83% and 56%, respectively. The two- and five-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 75% and 65%, and disease-specific survival rates were 93% and 70%, respectively. The N category was a significant independent prognosticator for OS (p = 0.02), whereas Group B was significantly and independently associated with DFS (HR 4.10, p = 0.006). Analyzing laryngo-esophageal dysfunction-free survival as an outcome, it was found that this was significantly lower in higher N categories (p = 0.04) and in cases that underwent non-surgical treatments (p = 0.002). Optimization of oncologic outcomes in T3 LCs may be obtained only by a comprehensive MDT approach, considering that different treatment options have heterogenous toxicity profiles and indications.

Limitations and Opportunities in Open Laryngeal Organ Preservation Surgery: Current Role of OPHLs

The current trend for treatment of intermediate-early advanced laryngeal cancer is essentially oriented toward preservation of organ and laryngeal function, and with a good potential for treating the disease. This goal can be achieved by adopting open laryngeal organ preservation surgery (OLOPS), at present mainly represented by open partial horizontal laryngectomies (OPHLs). An approach using rigorous selection criteria based on both the general condition of the patient and the local and regional extent of the disease gives excellent oncological and functional results in untreated patients. Similar outcomes, albeit slightly worse, are also obtainable in radio-recurrent and laser-recurrent patients. Troublesome postoperative management and the inconsistency of functional recovery are the main limitations for extensive application of this therapeutic strategy. The future direction is represented by simplification of the indications identifying iso-prognostic sub-categories within the T-stage, wider consensus on rehabilitation protocols, hybrid approaches to the larynx, and open minimally invasive access.