Ultrastructural evaluation of 585-nm pulsed-dye laser-treated glottal dysplasia.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: To describe the ultrastructural changes occurring within pulsed-dye laser (PDL)-treated glottal tissues.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective.

METHODS

Nine patients presenting with glottal dysplasia requiring biopsy to rule out microinvasive carcinoma were enrolled in this prospective study. At least two samples were obtained in each case: one from a PDL-treated area and another from a non-PDL-treated area (obtained from a nonphonatory region as an internal control). In some cases, a third sample was obtained from the junction between PDL- and non-PDL-treated areas. All samples were examined with light microscopy (H and E stain) and transmission electron microscopy. Observations were made of morphological changes within the epithelium, epithelial/ superficial lamina propria (SLP) junction, and the lamina propria of tissues treated with the PDL. Eight of nine patients were followed for a period of 9-25 months (mean, 18 months) with two recurrences that were retreated with awake-PDL and followed for an additional 8.3 and 9.5 months without recurrence. Vocal fold appearance returned to normal within 3-4 weeks posttreatment.

RESULTS

Intraepithelial desmosome junctions were preferentially destroyed, and regional blood vessels were coagulated. The PDL consistently caused a separation of epithelial cells away from the basement membrane.

CONCLUSIONS

The PDL allowed for both a surgical and a nonsurgical multimodality method for treatment of precancerous lesions with minimal effects on the SLP.