Glottic laser surgery: outcomes according to 2007 ELS classification.

The aim of the present investigation was to analyze the oncological results of a series of early stage glottic carcinomas treated with CO(2) laser-assisted endoscopic surgery. We focused on prognosis factors with significant impact on local control and disease-free survival (DFS). This retrospective study was conducted on a series of 177 consecutive patients with pT1-T2 glottic carcinomas treated with CO(2) laser-assisted endoscopic surgery in the period 2000-2007. All considered patients had at least a 24-month follow-up period (mean follow-up 49.1 ± 23.0 months). The overall survival and the disease-specific survival rates were respectively 90.8 and 98.8%. The rates of local control with primary laser surgery, ultimate local control with laser alone, and laryngeal preservation were 86.3, 94.3, and 97.7%, respectively. Arytenoids (p = 0.006) and limited subglottic involvements (p = 0.0002) have a significant impact on DFS. Endoscopic laser surgery is the gold standard in the treatment of early glottic carcinoma because of high local control rates with laser alone, day surgery modality, very low morbility, good post-operative voice quality in most of the cases, and low costs.