OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility and effect of CO2 laser surgery for early glottic carcinoma with anterior commissure involvement.

METHODSTwenty-seven patients with T1b glottic squamous cell carcinoma who underwent transoral CO2 laser surgery as the primary modality of treatment from January 2008 to August 2013 were reviewed. All patients were males and the age ranged from 46 to 81 years old. The patients did not receive any other treatments. Preoperative enhanced CT scan was performed to assess the status of the tumors and the lamina of thyroid cartilage. All the patients without the lamina of thyroid cartilage involved underwent transoral CO2 laser surgery.

RESULTSAmong 27 cases, aside from 1 patient converted to open operation due to inadequate exposure, 26 patients were successfully implemented operation. All the patients were followed-up for 12 to 60 months (median 26 months) and no recurrence. Granulation occurred four to six weeks after operation in all patients. Among them, granulation disappeared automatically three to six months in 22 patients and was resected with local anesthesia in other 4 patients, which the pathological results were inflammatory lesion. All patients did not undergo tracheotomy and nasogastric feeding, with an average stay of three days in hospital after surgery, and had different degree of vocal cord adhesion 6 months later.

CONCLUSIONSTransoral CO2 laser surgery is an ideal procedure for early glottic carcinoma with anterior commissure involvement. Better preoperative evaluation, endoscopic technique and satisfied exposure are keys to the success of operation.