For the treatment of early glottic cancer (T₁/T₂N₀M₀), different treatment options, such as transoral laser microsurgery, open surgical techniques, and primary radiotherapy, are under discussion. In this context, the aim of the present study was to describe oncologic results and complication rates of transoral laser microsurgery in treatment of early glottic cancer as a single-modality therapy.

Retrospective analysis of medical records

This is a retrospective study in Ho Chi Minh City Ear Nose Throat Hospital included 126 early-stage glottic cancer (T1/T2) patients scheduled to undergo transoral laser microsurgery from 2014 to 2019. Data on demographics, site and extent of disease, treatment, complication and early outcome were collected and analyzed.

126 early stages glottic cancer cases were exclusively treated by TLM and included into this study, 97,6% patients were male and 2,4% were female. The 5-year DFS, ultimate local control with laser alone rates were 86.5% and 92.1%, respectively. The laryngeal preservation rate was 95.2%; and the OS and DSS rates were 89.7% and 97.6%, respectively. The presence of intraoperative complications was low, affecting only 3.6% of patients. Immediate postoperative complications occurred in 7.1%, whereas delayed complications affected 10.7% of patients, without any of them being fatal. The most frequent complication of TLM was granulation tissue formation. 30% of patients had normal voices and a further 48% had only mild or moderate voice change. At their last follow-up, no patients assessed had any difficulty swallowing relating to their treatment for glottic cancer.

TLM has shown good results of local control, a high survival rate and a low complication rate compared in selected cases of T1-T2 glottic carcinoma, and thus shows utility as a primary treatment modality for early glottic cancer.

Early glottic cancer, Early glottic carcinoma, Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM), Carbon dioxide laser, Organ preservation.