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Objective(s): Describe recent national trends in overall treatment modalities for T1 glottic squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), and identify factors associated with treatment regimens., Methods: National Cancer Database from 2004-2020 was queried for all patients with glottic cT1N0M0 SCC. Treatment patterns over time were analyzed using the Cochran-Armitage test for trend. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine the factors associated with treatment regimens., Results: Of the 22,414 patients identified, most patients received RT only (57%), 21% received surgery only, and 22% received dual-modality treatment ("over-treatment"). Over the time period, there was a decreasing trend in rates of over-treatment for T1 glottic SCC (p < 0.001) and an increasing trend in surgery only (p < 0.001). Treatment in 2016-2018 (OR: 1.168 [1.004 to 1.359]), 2013-2015 (OR: 1.419 [1.221 to 1.648]), 2010-2012 (OR: 1.611 [1.388 to 1.871]), 2007-2009 (OR: 1.682 [1.450 to 1.951]), or 2004-2006 (OR: 1.795 [1.548 to 2.081]) versus 2019-2020 was associated with greater likelihood of over-treatment. T1b tumors were less likely to be over-treated (OR: 0.795 [0.707 to 0.894]) versus T1a tumors, and less likely to receive surgery first (OR: 0.536 [0.485 to 0.592]) versus T1a tumors., Conclusion: Over-treatment for T1 glottic SCC has been declining, with increasing rates of surgery only. Year of treatment was significantly associated with the receipt of dual-modality treatment. Finally, patients with T1b disease were more likely to receive RT as the first and only treatment., Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:3633-3644, 2024., (© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives: Transoral laser microsurgery (TLMS) and radiotherapy (XRT) are mainstays of treatment for early glottic carcinoma (EGC). Here, we investigated case-dependent provider treatment preferences and identify factors which impact decision-making in EGC., Methods: This cross-sectional survey of laryngologists, head-and-neck surgeons, and radiation oncologists presented five diagrammatic cases of progressively advanced EGC (T1/2, N0). Respondents indicated preference for TLMS or XRT and ranked factors which influenced their recommendation for each case. Analysis utilized descriptive statistics, Fischer's exact tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests for nonparametric data., Results: A total of 141 complete responses (69.5% laryngologists) were received. Most respondents practiced in academic settings (93.5%) and within multidisciplinary teams (94.0%). Anterior commissure involvement was the most important a priori tumor factor for case-independent treatment recommendation (Likert Scale: 4.22/5), followed by Laterality (Likert Scale: 4.02/5). Across all specialties, TLMS was recommended for unilateral T1a lesions. Laryngologists continued recommending TLMS in T2 lesions (41.0%) more than head-and-neck surgeons (5.0%) and radiation oncologists (0.0%). Across all cases, survival and voice outcomes were the most important clinical factors impacting treatment decisions. Radiation oncologists weighed voice more heavily than laryngologists in more complex presentations of EGC (rank: 1.6 vs. 2.7, Kruskall-Wallis: p < 0.05)., Conclusions: In more complex clinical presentations of EGC, preference for TLMS compared to XRT differed across specialists, despite similar rankings of factors driving these treatment recommendations. This may be driven by differing experiences and viewpoints on case-dependent voice outcomes following TLMS versus XRT, suggesting a need for increased understanding of how tumor location and depth impact voice outcomes., Level of Evidence: 5 Laryngoscope, 134:3686-3694, 2024., (© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives: The study was intended to compare the outcomes for T1-T2N0M0 glottic squamous cell carcinoma with anterior commissure involvement who had undergone partial laryngectomy (PL) or radiotherapy (RT)., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 256 patients who were treated by RT (n = 70) or PL (n = 186). Patients received prophylactic irradiation of the neck in RT group whereas PL was not associated with lymphadenectomy. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to eliminate the baseline variations., Results: The average age of the RT group (67 years) was significantly higher than that of the PL (59 years). Local recurrence was noted in 14 patients of the RT group and 22 of the PL. While regional recurrence was noted in only 1 patient of the RT group and 23 of the PL. After PSM, the 5-year overall survival (82.8% vs. 83.9%, p = 0.302), 5-year cancer-specific survival (88.3% vs. 89.7%, p = 0.793), 5-year local relapse-free survival (79.3% vs. 84.5%, p = 0.127) were not significantly different between two groups. However, 5-year regional relapse-free survival in the RT group was significantly better than that in the PL (100% vs. 87.1%, p = 0.014). In the PL group, infection, granuloma, laryngeal stenosis, chylous leakage, and pharyngeal fistula were reported in six, 11, 12, one, and two patients, respectively., Conclusions: RT resulted in comparable rates of survival, local control, and larynx preservation compared to PL. However, RT was associated with higher regional control rate. The complication rates were extremely low in RT group., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

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., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Transoral CO 2 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 CO 2 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 CO 2 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.

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, I 2 = 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., (© 2019 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background and Objectives: Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) is a universally recognized safe and minimally invasive approach for early glottic cancer. Narrow band imaging (NBI) is an optical technique working with a filtered light that reveals superficial mucosal abnormalities through the neoangiogenic pattern. The aim of this systematic review is to demonstrate the role of intraoperative NBI during TLM for early glottic cancer to better evaluate tumor extension and for more precise margin resection., Study Design/materials and Methods: A systematic review of the literature following the PRISMA guidelines was performed. A literature search was performed using the following keywords: TLM, NBI, and early glottic cancer. Two independent authors evaluated the extracted data. Data regarding status of surgical margins after TLM, local recurrence, recurrence-free survival, and need of additional samples following NBI were collected., Results: Five articles met inclusion criteria with a total of 577 patients undergoing TLM with intraoperative NBI. A significant reduction of positive superficial margins was found in patients treated with (52%) and without (28.6%) intraoperative use of NBI (P < 0.05) CONCLUSIONS: Routine use of intraoperative NBI increases the accuracy of neoplastic superficial spreading evaluation and accuracy of mass resection during TLM for early glottic cancer. The significant reduction of superficial positive margins dramatically decreases the number of patients at risk and improves clinical outcomes. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: The objective of this study is to compare the oncologic outcomes of CO 2 transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and radiotherapy (RT) for treatment of T1 glottic carcinoma., Methods: A literature search was conducted in the following databases: Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Search results were screened, and publications comparing oncologic outcomes of T1N0M0 glottic carcinoma treated with TLM or RT were included. Data was extracted independently by two authors, and publication quality was graded according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine. Meta-analysis was performed for overall survival, disease specific survival, laryngeal preservation, and local control., Results: Sixteen studies were included in the meta-analysis, the majority being retrospective cohort studies with two prospective cohort studies. Included studies were rated as either Level II or III evidence. Meta-analysis favoured treatment with TLM for T1 glottic carcinoma patients for the following outcomes: overall survival (odds ratio [OR], 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-2.14; P = 0.02), disease specific survival (OR, 2.70; CI, 1.32-5.54; P = 0.007), and laryngeal preservation (OR, 6.31; CI, 3.77-10.56; P < 0.00001). There was no difference in local control between TLM and RT in T1 glottic cancer (OR, 1.19; CI, 0.79-1.81; P = 0.40)., Discussion: Our study provides a current and thorough comparison of TLM and RT outcomes in T1 glottic carcinoma. Limitations of our study include lack of randomized control trials, and non-randomized allocation of patients to treatment groups. Our meta-analysis suggests that TLM is the superior modality in terms of overall survival, disease specific survival, and laryngeal preservation. Future prospective randomized controlled studies are required for confirming these findings and developing appropriate clinical practice guidelines., Level of Evidence: 2A; as per the Centre of Evidence Based Medicine.

Objectives: To study the inflammatory infiltrates associated with the different stages of laryngeal carcinogenesis., Design: Observational, matched case-control study of histopathologic specimens., Setting: An academic referral centre., Participants: A total of 45 patients who underwent removal of glottic lesions between 2008 and 2015. Patients were enrolled and categorised into three matched groups according to lesions' histopathologic diagnoses, 15 patients in each group: benign, pre-malignant and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Matching was based on age, gender and pack-years., Main Outcome Measures: Immunohistochemistry staining using monoclonal antibodies against CD4, CD8, CD68, CD20 and S100 representing T-helper cells, cytotoxic T cells, macrophages, B cells and dendritic cells, respectively. Cell counts and distributions were measured and compared between groups. Correlations between the different cells were examined., Results: The predominant cell type was CD8+, followed by CD68+ and CD4+. All inflammatory cells increased significantly in number in SCC (P-value < 0.001), with no significant difference between benign and pre-malignant groups. Strong correlations between the different cells were demonstrated only in the malignant group. S100+ cells correlated with both T-cell subsets, CD4+ (rho = 0.769, P-value = 0.001) and CD8+ (rho = 0.697, P-value = 0.0004). Infiltrates exhibited more extensive distribution in SCC compared to pre-malignant and benign; CD8+ and CD68+ cells were demonstrated in both intraepithelial and stromal regions in 93% of SCC lesions (P-value = 0.0001)., Conclusions: Laryngeal carcinoma demonstrates a unique pattern of inflammatory infiltrates, with significant changes in cell counts and distribution. Leucocyte infiltrates increased significantly in the transition from laryngeal pre-malignant lesion to malignancy while no significant differences were seen between benign and pre-malignant lesions., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Voice outcome was assessed in patients with extended T1 and limited T2 glottic carcinoma, treated with a unilateral type III or a bilateral type II resection according to the European Laryngological Society (ELS) classification., Methods: Objective evaluation (acoustic and aerodynamic parameters), perceptual evaluation (GRBAS), and patients' self-assessment (voice handicap index [VHI]) were performed before and 1 year after treatment. Results were evaluated according to ELS resection type and the involvement of the anterior commissure., Results: The majority of voice parameters in all resection subgroups showed an improvement of the mean score 1 year postoperatively. Grade of dysphonia varied between 1.15 and 1.66 postoperatively and VHI score varied from 23.3 to 24.5., Conclusion: Voice outcome after ELS unilateral type III or a bilateral type II resection for extended T1 and limited T2 glottic carcinoma is good with mild to very moderate perceptive dysphonia and low self-reported voice impairment., (© 2019 The Authors. Head & Neck published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objectives:: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of the submucosal infusion combined with microflap dissection via laser CO2 as both a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for superficial glottic lesions. To define a safe surgical procedure in terms of local control, a morphometric study of surgical margins was performed., Methods:: From January 2011 to January 2016, we treated 122 patients with early glottic lesions with phonomicrosurgery. Patients with effective hydrodissection underwent a microflap and type I-II diagnostic cordectomy. In the others, a biopsy was carried out, and in the case of a malignant lesion, a type III to VI cordectomy was performed. Disease-free survival (DFS) for all the lesions was also determined according to comparative assessments of surgical margins. The Voice Handicap Index was used to evaluate functional outcomes., Results:: In 27 cases (32%), hydrodissection was effective; specifically, 24 (88.8%) were premalignant lesions, and 3 (11.2%) had a carcinoma. In 56 patients (68%), hydrodissection was not adequate, and a biopsy was performed: 9 (16%) were premalignant and 47 (84%) malignant lesions. The DFS analysis suggests that margins >0.7 mm resulted in a cutoff that can guarantee a safe procedure in the case of effective hydrodissection ( P < .05)., Conclusion:: Phonomicrosurgery may be both a diagnostic and therapeutic option with oncological efficacy for superficial glottic lesions of undetermined nature when surgical margins exceed 0.7 mm. In case of inadequate hydrodissection, the hypothesis of an infiltrative carcinoma warrants a wider cordectomy.

Objective: Avoidance of organs at risk has become possible with advances in image-guided volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) techniques. This study was designed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for early stage glottic cancer. This report presents the preliminary result of the first and second dose level., Methods: Fraction size was increased from 3.5 gray (Gy) (total dose 59.5 Gy) to 9 Gy (total dose 45 Gy). Dose-limiting toxicities were defined as grade 3 or higher treatment-related toxicities. Voice outcome was assessed with electroglottography, and quality of life (QoL) was measured with the Head and Neck Cancer Inventory (HNCI)., Results: Seven patients received 59.5 Gy at 3.5 Gy per fraction as the first dose level, and five patients received 55 Gy at 5 Gy per fraction as the second dose level. None of the patients developed grade 3+ toxicity throughout a median follow-up of 17.5 months (range, 1.7-30.6 months). One patient in the second dose level recurred in the primary site at 4 months after radiotherapy (RT) and received total laryngectomy. The rest of participants were disease-free at locoregional and distant sites. Jitter, shimmer, mean phonation time, and noise-to-harmony ratio did not change significantly at 6 months after RT. HNCI scores between pretreatment and posttreatment were not significantly different (P = 0.221)., Conclusion: This study revealed acceptable toxicity, voice outcome, and QoL in patients treated with hypofractionated VMAT of 3.5 Gy and 5 Gy per fraction. This phase I study is currently ongoing with a dose of 55 Gy in 11 fractions and 45 Gy in five fractions., Level of Evidence: 2b. Laryngoscope, 2560-2565, 2018., (© 2018 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Purpose: To assess the impact of surgical margins status on local control in patients with primary early glottic (Tis-T2) squamous cell carcinoma after treatment with transoral CO 2 laser microsurgery (TLM) and to assess the significance of additional wound bed biopsies., Methods: Patients with Tis-T2 tumours treated with TLM type I-III resections according to the European Laryngological Society classification between 2009 and 2013 were included in retrospective analysis. Recurrence rate was determined in patients with free versus non-free specimen margins and wound biopsies. Five-year survival rates were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic impact of pT-category, resection margin status, tumour differentiation, wound bed biopsy status, and number of biopsies on local control (LC) were tested with the log-rank test., Results: Eighty-four patients were included in the analysis. Positive margins were seen in 68 patients (81.0%). Margin status after TLM did not significantly influence LC (p = 0.489), however, additional wound bed biopsies were significantly associated with lower LC (p = 0.009). Five-year LC, disease-specific survival, overall survival and laryngeal preservation were 78.6, 78.0, 98.6 and 100%, respectively., Conclusions: Additional wound bed biopsies can help predict local recurrence in patients treated with TLM for early glottic carcinoma. We propose that there is enough evidence to support a wait-and-see policy in patients with positive specimen margins and negative wound bed biopsies. For patients with positive wound bed biopsies, further treatment is warranted.

Objectives/hypothesis: To characterize outcomes for patients who underwent transoral microsurgery with potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser resection of early glottic cancers and to compare outcomes with patients who received external beam radiation therapy., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Methods: The history of patients with T1 glottic carcinoma treated with curative primary radiation or transoral KTP laser resection was reviewed. Oncologic outcomes for both radiation and surgery cohorts including disease-free and overall survival were calculated., Results: Eighty-seven patients met inclusion criteria from 2011 to 2016; 47 patients (54%) received primary KTP laser ablation, and 40 patients (46%) received primary external beam radiotherapy. The average length of follow-up was 924 ± 529 days in the KTP laser group and 994 ± 603 days in the radiation group (P = .26). There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups in terms of medical or demographic variables. There were six recurrences in the KTP laser group (13%), versus six in the radiotherapy group (15%) (P = .77). The laryngeal preservation rate for the cohort of patients who initially received KTP laser treatment was 46 out of 47 patients (98%). Of the cohort that received primary radiation therapy, the laryngeal preservation rate was 36 out of 40 patients (90%, P = .18). Disease-free and overall survival were 88% and 98% in the KTP laser cohort and 85% and 95% in the radiation cohort (P = .78, P = .56), respectively., Conclusions: KTP laser ablation is a modality equivalent to primary radiation therapy in oncologic outcomes for T1 glottic squamous cell carcinoma., Level of Evidence: 4. Laryngoscope, 128:1052-1056, 2018., (© 2017 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objective: As phonomicrosurgical techniques have evolved, endoscopic cordectomy (EC) has been used more commonly for early-stage glottic cancer. Patients undergoing more extensive surgery often experience significant postoperative dysphonia for which there is no standard treatment. Surgical options include injection laryngoplasty and thyroplasty. We reviewed the literature to evaluate the efficacy of thyroplasty after EC., Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify studies of adults undergoing thyroplasty for dysphonia after EC for glottic cancer. Primary outcomes included voice, as measured subjectively by the voice handicap index (VHI) and objectively by aerodynamics-specifically maximum phonation time (MPT). Secondary outcomes included additional acoustic and aerodynamic measurements, variations in the technical aspects of thyroplasty, and a description of adverse events., Results: Seven articles met inclusion criteria. Each study allowed 6 to 12 months after EC before performing thyroplasty. General anesthesia frequently was used rather than monitored anesthesia care . Implants varied between centers and were chosen based on surgeon preference. Of the three studies including statistical analysis, one reported improvement in VHI and grade. The second reported improvement in VHI; grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, strain; jitter; shimmer; noise-to-harmonic ratio (NHR); and MPT. The third reported improvements in jitter, shimmer, NHR, fundamental frequency, MPT, and sound pressure level. The most frequent adverse events were hematoma, infection, and implant extrusion., Conclusion: Optimizing voice after EC remains a clinical challenge. Our review suggests that thyroplasty is one potentially beneficial option in appropriately selected patients. More controlled studies are needed to assess efficacy of thyroplasty in this context. Laryngoscope, 128:690-696, 2018., (© 2018 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives: Despite the excellent prognosis of early glottic cancer (T1-T2), the significance of preoperatively measured tumor thickness has not been elucidated. We evaluated the role of tumor thickness measured using computed tomography (CT) as a predictive factor for recurrence of early glottic cancer after transoral laser microsurgery (TLM)., Methods: The medical records of 134 patients who were diagnosed with early glottic squamous cell carcinoma and underwent TLM were reviewed. Age, sex, clinical stage, preoperative biopsy, anterior commissure involvement, CT findings, recurrence, and overall survival were evaluated., Results: Seventy-three patients (54 T1a, 2 T1b, and 17 T2) were enrolled. Tumor thickness on pathology increased proportionally with increased tumor thickness on CT. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival rates were 82.2 and 91.2%, respectively. Upon univariate analysis, RFS was affected by the type of cordectomy, tumor differentiation, margin involvement, anterior commissure involvement, impaired vocal fold mobility, and tumor thickness (> 4 mm) on CT scan (all p < 0.01). Among the relevant covariates, an involved or close resection margin [hazard ratio (HR) 19.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.5-105.6; p < 0.01], impaired vocal cord mobility (HR 8.5; 95% CI 1.45-49.2; p = 0.02), and pathological tumor thickness (> 4 mm) (HR 6.0; p = 0.02) were predictive of RFS., Conclusion: Tumor thickness may be another predictive factor for recurrence in early glottic cancer. Before TLM, reviewing the extent of tumor thickness will help to improve local control in cases of early glottic cancer.

T1a and T1b glottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are often analyzed together by authors who investigate the oncologic outcomes achieved after different therapeutic options. Nevertheless, T1b definitely represents a more advanced tumor stage compared to T1a glottic SCC. The objective of this review was first to analyze the overall success rates in the treatment of patients affected by T1b glottic SCC. Moreover, a subgroup analysis was planned to specifically compare the outcomes obtained with radiotherapy (RT), transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and open partial laryngectomies (OPL). An electronic library search of the relevant English literature was performed. Potentially eligible articles were reviewed. Qualified articles were selected and evaluated. Fifty-two studies comprising 2360 patients were included. The overall rate of disease-free survival (DFS) was 85% (95% CI 83-87). The overall rate of overall survival was 85% (95% CI 80-88) while the rate of disease-specific survival (DSS) was found to be 96% (95% CI 90-98). Statistical data concerning outcomes for each therapeutic modality showed an higher DFS rate for subjects treated with RT and OPL, respectively, 87% (95% CI 0.85-0.89) and 83% (95% CI 0.78-0.89), when compared to those who underwent TLM 77% (95% CI 0.69-0.83). In conclusion, our results showed a high level of overall DSS (96%) for patients affected by T1b glottic SCC. Regarding the specific therapeutic options, our subgroup analysis showed as patients treated with TLM present a higher rate of oncological recurrence in comparison to those who underwent RT or OPL. Nevertheless, on the basis of our data it was also noted that no significant differences subsist in terms of survival rates among the three different treatments. Moreover, the absence of a comparative analysis useful to confirm these conclusions must be considered.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of radiotherapy for patients with T1/T2 glottic carcinoma. Patients with T1/T2 glottic carcinoma histopathologically diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and treated at our hospital between 2007 and 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Our strategy for T1/T2 glottic carcinoma was as follows: radiotherapy alone with 2.25 Gy per fraction to a total of 25-28 fractions for patients with non-bulky T1 glottic carcinoma; concurrent chemoradiotherapy with oral S-1 and radiotherapy with 2 Gy per fraction to a total of 30 fractions for patients with T1 bulky/T2 favorable glottic carcinoma; or chemoradiotherapy with high-dose cisplatin and radiotherapy with 2 Gy per fraction to a total of 35 fractions for T2 unfavorable glottic carcinoma. Forty-eight patients were eligible. The median follow-up period among surviving patients was 38 months (range, 11-107). The disease was T1a in 23%, T1b in 13%, and T2 in 65% of patients. The 3-year local control rate in all patients, T1a, T1b, and T2 was 96.7%, 100%, 100%, and 96.0%, respectively. Of the 46 patients, one with T2 glottic carcinoma developed recurrent disease at the primary site, and one with T2 glottic carcinoma had lymph node recurrences in the neck. Acute Grade 3 dermatitis occurred in 8 (17%) patients and late Grade 2 hypothyroidism occurred in 2 (4%) patients. This retrospective study shows that our optimized treatment strategy of radiotherapy depending on the stage of early glottic carcinoma is not only effective but also well-tolerated.

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to determine whether the maximum standardised uptake value (SUV max ) can predict local tumour control in early glottic cancer (Tis, T1, and T2)., Patients and Methods: Fifty-nine patients treated with definitive radiotherapy for early glottic cancer between 2003 and 2011 were enrolled. We evaluated the SUV max in the region of interest around the original tumour site. Local tumour control and survival were estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the optimal SUV max cut-off for predicting local control., Results: As determined by laryngoscopy, all patients achieved a complete response. Eleven patients experienced local recurrence, while no distant metastasis occurred. One patient died due to local recurrence, while five lost their larynxes. The median follow-up was 61.5 (range: 6.2-123.4) months. The five-year local progression-free survival was 84.7%, and larynx preservation was possible in 89.6% of cases. The median SUV max was 2.2. The optimal SUV max for predicting local tumour control was identified as 3.4. Patients with glottic cancers with an SUV max >3.4 showed a significantly lower local progression-free survival rate than those with tumours with an SUV max <3.4 (five-year local progression-free survival rate: 53.4% vs. 95.4%, P<0.01). Multivariate analysis confirmed that a high SUV max was an independent predictive factor for local progression-free survival (P=0.006)., Conclusion: The use of ( 18 F)-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography for evaluation of the SUV max is useful to predict local progression-free survival in patients with early glottic cancer treated by radiation. Early glottic cancer with a high SUV max may require aggressive local treatment and careful surveillance., (Copyright © 2017 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objectives/hypothesis: The primary suspicion for glottic malignancy during office laryngoendoscopy is based on lesion appearance. Previous studies investigating laryngeal use of narrow band imaging (NBI) are mostly descriptive. The additive value of NBI relative to white light (WL) requires further investigation., Study Design: Observational matched study., Methods: NBI was compared with WL images of 45 vocal fold lesions suspected for malignancy (21 carcinoma, 22 dysplasia, two benign). All images were presented randomly and evaluated by six independent otolaryngology specialists. The observers were asked to estimate lesion size, location, and pathology. The results for the two imaging modalities were compared with each other and with the final pathology., Results: The observers estimated lesion size to be larger in the NBI images by an average of 9% (2.4 mm 2 ; P =.04) compared to WL. In 64.6% of cases, the observers estimated similar pathology for NBI and WL. When there was a discrepancy, the estimated pathology was "malignant" in 24.3% by NBI, compared with 11.1% by WL. Overall, 44.7% of the lesions were estimated to be malignant by NBI, compared with 33.8% by WL (P =.001). The sensitivity and specificity rates for malignancy detection by NBI were 58.6% and 61.2%, respectively, compared to 48.7% and 76.1% by WL., Conclusions: Observers tend to estimate vocal fold lesions to be larger and more frequently suspect malignancy while assessing NBI images. Compared with WL, NBI demonstrates increased sensitivity and decreased specificity for detection of malignancy. Nevertheless, the specificity and sensitivity of NBI alone are considerably low., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 127:894-899, 2017., (© 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives/hypothesis: Evaluate the oncologic outcomes of patients with early and select advanced primary glottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa) managed by transoral laser microsurgery (TLM)., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Methods: Ninety cases of TLM-managed primary glottic SCCa were identified retrospectively using a prospectively collected database., Results: Outcomes of patients with pTis-pT2a disease (n = 65) and pT2b-pT4a disease (n = 25) were, respectively: 5-year local control, 86.2% and 67.5%; 5-year disease-free survival, 64.9% and 44.9%; 5-year disease-specific survival, 96.4% and 59.0%; laryngeal preservation, 96.9% and 80%. Five of nine patients (56%) with supraglottic-glottic-subglottic tumors were local recurrence-free compared to the 70 of 81 (86%) patients with glottic, supraglottic-glottic, and glottic-subglottic tumors. Seven of 13 patients (54%) with positive or indeterminate margins were local recurrence-free compared to 68 of 77 (88%) patients with negative margins., Conclusions: Given sample size considerations, this study highlights the satisfactory oncologic outcomes of TLM-treated glottic cancer and the potential importance of margin management and disease extension within the larynx., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 127:597-604, 2017., (© 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objective: Correct assessment of patients with a glottic lesion is crucial for ensuring proper treatment in cases of cancer or premalignancy and for avoiding unnecessary surgery. For years, videostroboscopy (VS) has been the gold standard for assessing such lesions, but diagnostic difficulties have been described. We aim to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of VS in differentiating early glottic cancer from noninvasive lesions by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies., Data Sources: PubMed and Embase databases were searched without restrictions on publication date., Review Methods: A systematic review and subsequent meta-analysis were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement. We systematically searched the literature for publications on stroboscopic diagnosis of cancer or premalignant lesions on the vocal cords. All retrieved studies were reviewed and qualitatively assessed. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of VS were calculated, and bubble and summary receiver operating characteristics plots were created., Results: A meta-analysis was conducted on five studies with a total of 307 patients. The sensitivities of VS within the single studies ranged from 86% to 100% and specificities ranged from 7% to 93%. The meta-analysis showed that the sensitivity of the combined results was 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.89-0.98), and the specificity was 0.65 (95% CI: 0.21-0.93)., Conclusion: VS is able to identify almost all patients with cancer, but only approximately two-thirds of patients with noninvasive lesions are correctly identified as not having cancer. Further research concerning assessment of patients with vocal cord lesions is needed., Level of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 126:2079-2084, 2016., (© 2015 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: The literature reports various treatment methodologies, such as trans-oral laser microsurgery, radiation therapy, total/partial laryngectomies, and concurrent radiation chemotherapy for patients with early larynx cancer. However, at the forefront of early glottis treatment is trans-oral laser microsurgery and radiation therapy, likely due to better functional and survival outcomes. Here we conduct the largest Canadian head-to-head comparison of consecutive patients treated with either radiation therapy or trans-oral laser microsurgery. Additionally, we compare these two treatments and their 5-year survival rates post treatment to add to the existing literature., Methods: Charts of patients who were diagnosed with early glottic cancer between 2006 and 2013 were reviewed. Seventy-five patients were identified, and split into 2 groups based on their primary treatment, trans-oral laser microsurgery and radiation therapy. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, life-tables, and the log-rank statistic were reported to determine if there was a difference between the two treatment groups and their disease-specific survival, disease-free survival, and total laryngectomy-free survival. Additionally, each different survival analysis was stratified by potential confounding variables, to help conclude which treatment is more efficacious in this population., Results: The 5-year disease-specific survival rate is 93.3 % σ = 0.063 and 90.8 % σ = 0.056 for patients treated with trans-oral laser microsurgery and radiation therapy, respectively (χ (2) < 0.001, p = 0.983). The disease free survival rate is 60.0 % (σ =0.121) for patients treated with trans-oral laser microsurgery, and 67.2 % (σ = 0.074) for those who received RT (χ (2) = 0.19, p = 0.663). Additionally, the total laryngectomy-free survival rate is 84.1 % (σ = 0.1) and 79.1 % (σ = 0.072) for patients' early glottic cancer treated by trans-oral laser microsurgery and radiation therapy, respectively (χ (2) = 0.235, p = 0.628). Chi-square analysis of age-group versus treatment group (χ (2) = 6.455, p = 0.04) and T-stage versus treatment group (χ (2) = 11.3, p = 0.001) revealed a statistically significant relationship, suggesting survival analysis should be stratified by these variables. However, after stratification, there was no statistically significant difference between the trans-oral laser microsurgery and radiation therapy groups in any of the survival analyses., Conclusion: No difference was demonstrated in the 5-year disease-specific survival, disease-free survival, and total laryngectomy-free survival, between the RT and TLM treatment groups. Additionally, both groups showed similar 5-year survival after stratifying by confounding variables.

Objectives: To evaluate the voice changes after narrow-margin endoscopic partial laryngectomy in subjects with T1N0M0 glottic cancer., Study Design: Uncontrolled retrospective comparison of preoperative and postoperative mean phonation time; fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, and noise-to-harmonic ratio; and voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL) survey scores., Methods: Seventeen adults diagnosed with T1N0M0 glottic cancer who underwent narrow-margin endoscopic partial laryngectomy were included. All subjects had preoperative and postoperative acoustic evaluation and V-RQOL scores. Subjects were separated into three groups based on age and depth of resection. Group A (mean age, 52 years) consisted of seven subjects who underwent superficial resection (superficial layer of lamina propria) and were younger than 60 years. Group B (mean age, 76 years) consisted of six subjects who were older than 60 years and underwent superficial resection (superficial layer of lamina propria). The four subjects in group C were older than 60 years and underwent deep resection (into the vocal ligament and/or into the thyroarytenoid muscle)., Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in V-RQOL in group A. The acoustic measures did not change after surgery (no P<0.05)., Conclusion: For early-stage cancer, patients younger than 60 years and superficial resection of cancer are predictive for better voice., (Copyright © 2016 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

To assess the prognostic factors for local control in patients with early glottic cancer, we retrospectively analyzed the data of 130 consecutive patients who were treated by definitive radiation therapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for early glottic squamous cell carcinoma (UICC sixth edition T1N0M0 and T2N0M0) at Kanagawa cancer center between 1999 and 2011. There were 63 patients with T1 cancer and 67 patients with T2 cancer. Twenty-one patients with T2 tumors were treated by chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The median follow-up period was 73 months (range, 22-165 months). The 5-year local control (LC) rate in all patients was 81 %. The 5-year LC rates in the patients with T1 and T2 cancer were 89 and 74 %, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that a higher T stage (T2) (p = 0.0301), anterior commissure involvement (p < 0.000001), and habitual drinking (p = 0.054) were correlated with decreased local control rate. Multivariate analysis identified only anterior commissure involvement as a significant prognostic factor for local control (LC rate 91 vs. 51 %, risk ratio 5.3, 95 % CI 2.3-12, p < 0.001). In the patients with T2 cancer, there was no statistically significant difference in the LC rate between patients who received RT alone and those who received CRT (RT alone 76 % vs. CRT 67 %; p = 0.832). The findings of this study suggest that anterior commissure involvement is a significant factor influencing the prospect of local control. CRT was not found to be effective for T2 patients in this study.

Objectives/hypothesis: Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) continues to gain popularity as a treatment modality for early glottic cancer. Oncologic outcomes have been well-defined, but there are little data to date describing functional outcomes accounting for stage of resection., Study Design: Retrospective review., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patient-rated voice handicap and observer-rated vocal quality of patients who underwent TLM for early glottic carcinoma. Patients were grouped by European Laryngological Society (ELS) resection type, and the data were combined for ELS type I-III and compared with advanced resections (ELS IV-VI). The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) was used for patient-rated voice outcomes, and voice recordings were graded by two senior speech-language pathologists. Voice recordings and VHI scores were taken preoperatively and at least 1 month postoperatively., Results: No major complications were encountered. Six of 49 patients underwent repeat resection for suspicious findings with pathology, demonstrating moderate dysplasia in two cases, carcinoma in situ in two cases, and inflamed mucosa only in two cases. There was no significant difference in preoperative VHI scores or objective voice grades among patients who underwent limited (ELS I-III) and those who required more advanced (ELS IV-VI) resection. There was a significant improvement in VHI scores in patients after ELS type I to III resection, from 38.77 to 22.86 (P = .006). There was no significant difference between mean preoperative and postoperative perceptual evaluation scores in patients who underwent ELS type I, II, or III resections (62.25 and 64.32 respectively, P = .621)., Conclusions: Patients who undergo limited ELS resections can be assured of having a similar to improved voice after healing. Patients who undergo extended resections have poorer vocal outcomes., Level of Evidence: 4., (© 2015 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives/hypotheses: This study proposed the use of signal typing and acoustic measures experimentally validated for aperiodic voices to investigate voice outcomes after transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for early glottic carcinoma. It was of interest whether signal type and pitch-tracking indicators would reveal unreliable perturbation and noise measures. As an alternative, smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS) was used for the first time in this population., Study Design: A descriptive study of patients treated with TLM for early glottic carcinoma., Methods: All participants (n=14) performed a series of vocal tasks. Narrowband spectrograms were generated from voice recordings and classified into one of four signal types. The perturbation and noise measures of periodic or near-periodic signals only were reported. The CPPS for sustained vowel (CPPS-/a/) and connected speech (CPPS-s) were calculated for all participants. The relationship between voice outcomes and tumor and TLM factors was investigated., Results: Nine of 14 participants had an aperiodic type 3 signal. Three of 14 participants had voices considered reliable for perturbation analysis. Absolute jitter, %jitter, %shimmer, and signal-to-noise ratio were all low; however, CPPS-/a/ and CPPS-s amplitudes were below the normal range for most participants. Involvement of the anterior commissure, number of TLM episodes, and time post-surgery were associated with worse voice outcomes. There were strong correlations between signal type, CPPS-/a/, and pitch-tracking indicators., Conclusions: The limitations of perturbation analysis should be considered when analyzing the voice after TLM. Signal type should be considered before conducting perturbation analysis. The CPPS-/a/ and CPPS-s may be more reliable acoustic outcome measures for this population., (Copyright © 2015 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Accelerated fractionation radiotherapy (RT) was administered in an attempt to improve the local control rates in patients with T1/T2 N0 glottic cancer., Methods: Medical charts of 148 consecutive patients who had undergone RT using 2.4 Gray (Gy) once-daily fractionation between July 1999 and April 2007 were reviewed., Results: Of 104 patients with T1 disease treated by RT, 82 received 60 Gy/25 fractions, and the remaining 22 with large tumor volumes and/or slow response to RT received 64.8 Gy/27 fractions. All 44 patients with T2 disease received 64.8 Gy/27 fractions. The 5-year local control and overall survival (OS) rates were 93% and 96%, respectively, in patients with T1 disease, and 77% and 91%, respectively, in patients with T2 disease. No severe acute toxicities were observed, although 2 patients (1%) developed severe late toxicity., Conclusion: Accelerated RT for early glottic cancer is feasible, with encouraging local control rates., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: The high rate of positive margins after transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) remains a matter of debate. This study investigates the effect of intraoperative narrow band imaging (NBI) examination on the incidence of positive superficial surgical margins in early glottic cancer treated by TLM., Methods: Between January 2012 and October 2013, 82 patients affected by Tis-T1a glottic cancer were treated with TLM by type I or II cordectomies. Intraoperative NBI evaluation was performed using 0-degree and 70-degree rigid telescopes. Surgical specimens were oriented by marking the superior edge with black ink and sent to a dedicated pathologist. Comparison between the rate of positive superficial margins in the present cohort and in a matched historical control group treated in the same way without intraoperative NBI was calculated by chi-square test., Results: At histopathological examination, all surgical margins were negative in 70 patients, whereas 7 had positive deep margins, 2 close, and 3 positive superficial margins. The rate of positive superficial margins was thus 3.6% in the present group and 23.7% in the control cohort (P<.001)., Conclusion: Routine use of intraoperative NBI increases the accuracy of neoplastic superficial spreading evaluation during TLM for early glottic cancer., (© The Author(s) 2014.)

Objectives/hypothesis: To study and compare the outcome of trans-oral CO2 laser microsurgery for early glottic squamous cell cancer with and without the involvement of anterior commissure (AC)., Study Design: This is a retrospective analysis of 296 cases of early glottic squamous cancer treated by trans-oral CO2 laser microsurgery., Methods: The patients were divided into two groups depending on whether AC was involved or not. The impact of AC involvement on rates of local recurrence, laryngeal preservation, overall survival, and disease-specific survival was compared in both the groups., Results: Out of the 296 cases, 61 cases had AC involvement, while in 235 cases AC was free of disease. Local recurrence rate was significantly higher at 29.51% in the group with AC involvement, while only 18.3% cases had local recurrence in the group without AC involvement with P value of 0.0001. On T stage-wise analysis, 34.8% cases of T2 lesions with AC involvement developed local recurrence, as compared to only 10.26% cases of T2 without AC involvement with significant P value of 0.007. Larynx preservation rate was 95.8% versus 93.26% in the AC-involved and AC not-involved cases, respectively, without any statistical significance (P=0.287). The overall survival was 90.16% versus 86.38% in the cases with and without AC involvement, respectively, without significant P value 0.642., Conclusions: Trans-oral laser surgery is an excellent treatment option in patients with early glottic cancer irrespective of whether or not the AC is involved. Trans-oral laser microsurgery for early glottic cancer involving AC requires adequate exposure, proper assessment, good experience, and advanced surgical skills., (© 2013 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the impact of transoral laser surgery of early glottic cancer in elderly patients in terms of feasibility, disease-free survival, overall survival and organ preservation, in a single Institute (European Institute of Oncology). A total of 122 patients (male/female ratio 113/9), over 70s with untreated early stage glottic cancer, were consecutively evaluated and treated at the European Institute of Oncology from 2000 to 2008. None had contraindications to general anaesthesia and all patients signed informed consent to this surgical treatment. The severity of pre-operative comorbidities and the intra-operative risk were evaluated according to the American Society of Anaesthesiologists Grading classification. All patients underwent laser cordectomies according to the European Laryngological Society classification. Histopathological examination demonstrated no evidence of tumour (pT0) in 19 patients (calculated only in patients with a previous vocal cord biopsy positive for squamous cell carcinoma), pTis in 18, pT1a in 53, pT1b in 16, pT2 in 14 and pT3 in 2, respectively. A 10-year overall survival, a tumour specific survival and a laryngeal tumour-specific survival were, respectively, 64.9%, 84.8% and 94.3%. In conclusion, transoral laser surgery is feasible in elderly patients with early stage glottic cancer, providing good results in terms of disease-free survival, organ preservation and quality of life. Our group of elderly patients had no intra-operative or post-surgical complications and resumed normal activities the day after discharge from hospital. Considering these factors, we can assess, that transoral laser surgery, therefore, represents a modern treatment that should be offered as an alternative to conventional radiotherapy in elderly patients with early glottic cancer referred to medical centres with expertise for this surgical procedure.

Introduction: Early-stage glottic cancer has a high cure rate with definitive radiotherapy. Historical reports show excellent local control. The present study evaluated the outcomes of early glottic cancer patients treated with a hypofractionated radiotherapy schedule of 60Gy in 20 fractions. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients with stage I glottic cancer who received radical intent LINAC-based hypo-fractionated 3D conformal radiotherapy with a dose 60Gy in 20 fractions. The primary objective was to assess the locoregional control (LRC), and secondary objectives were to determine disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. Results: The analysis included 105 patients from the age range of 35-88 years. About 69% of patients were over 60 years of age. The median overall treatment time (OTT) was 26 days (24 - 30 days). The mean follow-up was 74 months, ranging from 9 to 135 months. Seven patients had locoregional recurrence after an initial complete clinical response. Six had local, and one had a regional nodal recurrence. DFS at five years and ten years were 83% and 69%, and OS at five years and ten years were 87% and 80%, respectively. Most patients reported grade I skin reactions and tolerated the treatment well. We did not observe any late adverse events such as persistent laryngeal edema or radiation necrosis. Conclusion: The radiotherapy schedule of 60Gy in 20 fractions over four weeks offers comparable local disease control with reasonable long-term side effects in T1 glottic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The management of close and/or positive margins after transoral CO2 laser microsurgery (CO2 TOLMS) is still an ongoing matter of discussion. Different options have been suggested on the basis of the number of the involved margins (single vs. multiple) and site (deep vs. superficial): strict follow-up, revision surgery or radiotherapy. However, precise indications about additional treatment and its effective impact on local control and survival rates are still lacking. The authors reviewed 351 patients with early glottic cancer treated using CO2 TOLMS with the aim of analyzing the impact of margin status on local control and survival, and discussing the therapeutic options in cases of close and positive margins. Background: The present study analyzed the impact of margin status on local control and survival, and the management of close/positive margins after transoral CO2 laser microsurgery for early glottic carcinoma. Methods: 351 patients (328 males, 23 females, mean age 65.6 years) underwent surgery. We identified the following margin statuses: negative, close superficial (CS), close deep (CD), positive single superficial (SS), positive multiple superficial (MS), and positive deep (DEEP). Results: A total of 286 patients (81.5%) had negative margins, 23 (6.5%) had close margins (8 CS, 15 CD) and 42 (12%) had positive margins (16 SS, 9 MS, 17 DEEP). Among the 65 patients with close/positive margins, 44 patients underwent enlargement, 6 radiotherapy and 15 follow-up. Twenty-two patients (6.3%) recurred. Patients with DEEP or CD margins showed a higher risk of recurrence (hazard ratios of 2.863 and 2.537, respectively), compared to patients with negative margins. Local control with laser alone, overall laryngeal preservation and disease-specific survival decreased significantly in patients with DEEP margins (57.5%, 86.9% and 92.9%, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with CS or SS margins could be safely submitted to follow-up. In the case of CD and MS margins, any additional treatment should be discussed with the patient. In the case of DEEP margin, additional treatment is always recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The voice of a patient is expected to improve after successful radiotherapy for early glottic cancer. The aim of this study was to follow the changes in the voice for two years after a completed treatment. Subjective patient and physician assessments of the voice quality and objective acoustic analyses of the voice of each patient were used to follow up on the voice changes at regular intervals in 50 patients with T1 glottic cancer. A stroboscopy showed the progression of radiotherapy-induced fibrosis of the vocal folds, which influenced their vibration during phonation. A subjective assessment of the voice quality showed a gradual improvement, but an objective measurement showed a deterioration in a few voice parameters. Two years after the treatment, only 16% of patients had normal voices. The main cause of the impaired voice quality was post-radiotherapy scarring of the vocal folds. Our aim was to track the changes in voice quality for two years after radiotherapy (RT) for early glottic cancer. A videoendostroboscopy, subjective patient and phoniatrician voice assessments, a Voice Handicap Index questionnaire, and objective acoustic measurements (F0, jitter, shimmer, maximal phonation time) were performed on 50 patients with T1 glottic carcinomas at 3, 12, and 24 months post-RT. The results were compared between the subsequent assessments, and between the assessments at 3 months and 24 months post-RT. The stroboscopy showed a gradual progression of fibrosis of the vocal folds with a significant difference apparent when the assessments at 3 months and 24 months were compared (p < 0.001). Almost all of the subjective assessments of voice quality showed an improvement during the first 2 years, but significant differences were noted at 24 months. Jitter and shimmer deteriorated in the first year after RT with a significant deterioration noticed between the sixth and twelfth months (p = 0.048 and p = 0.002, respectively). Two years after RT, only 8/50 (16%) patients had normal voices. The main reasons for a decreased voice quality after RT for early glottic cancer were post-RT changes in the larynx. Despite a significant improvement in the voice after RT shown in a few of the evaluation methods, only a minority of the patients had a normal voice two years post-RT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transoral laser microsurgery is widely used for treating T1/T2 glottic cancers. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is commonly used in vocal cord augmentation. We investigated the impact of intra-operative injection laryngoplasty on voice outcomes in early glottic cancer. Methods: Twenty patients were randomized to the treatment group receiving HA injection to the vocal cord contralateral to the lesion; or the control group, receiving no injection. Patients had a Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) questionnaire and a Maximum Phonation Time (MPT) measurement preoperatively and at 3, 12 and 24 months post-operatively. Mean change in VHI-10 and MPT, compared to baseline and between time points, were compared. Survival estimates were calculated. Results: Mean VHI-10 scores improved over time amongst all patients. There were no changes in mean VHI-10 from pre-operative values to 3, 12 or 24 months post-operatively. There were no significant differences when comparing various timepoints between groups. There were no significant changes in MPT amongst the groups, or the time-points compared. Two-year overall survival was 91.7%; disease free survival was 80.9%; no difference in recurrence free survival was seen between the groups. Conclusion: Subjective voice scores improved over time in both groups; there were no improvements in VHI-10 or MPT scores in the injection group, over control, at any time points. We saw no significant impact for intra-operative HA injection laryngoplasty on subjective or objective voice outcomes following surgery for early glottic cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We assessed the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of transoral cordectomy performed for early glottic cancer with the da Vinci Surgical System. Methods: Subjects with early cancer of the vocal cords who were treated with transoral robot-assisted cordectomy were included for study. Data regarding the ability to perform robot-assisted resection, volume of blood loss, robotic operating time, pathological margin status, postoperative extubation, complications, length of hospitalization, duration until start of oral nutrition, and need for a tracheotomy were evaluated. Results: Ten men with T1 glottic carcinoma underwent successful transoral robotic cordectomy with negative margins. The mean total robotic surgery time was 21.6 ± 6.75 minutes (range, 10 to 31 minutes). In all cases, the total blood loss was less than 20 mL. One subject needed a short-term tracheotomy and a nasogastric tube. The other 9 subjects started oral nutrition 6 to 24 hours after operation. The mean duration of hospitalization was 4.1 ±2.23 days. Conclusions: Transoral robotic cordectomy with the da Vinci Surgical System was found to be feasible, relatively safe, and effective. The lower morbidity rate was an advantage of this method. Transoral robotic surgery provides better exposure, visualization, and access than does transoral laser microsurgery. Cordectomy with transoral robotic surgery should be an alternative to external-approach cordectomy and transoral laser microsurgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]