[Preliminary results of endolaryngeal laser resections of laryngeal cancers].

From 1986 to 1988 ninety four patients with carcinoma of the larynx were treated by endoscopic laser surgery. Follow-up ranges from 3 to 39 months with a mean value of 23 months. Ninety patients were operated on with curative intent and 4 with palliative intent. In 7 cases of T3 tumors a complete removal of the tumor was not possible, so that a total laryngectomy could not be avoided. In all cases of T2 cancers of the glottic and subglottic level a definite resection was possible. Follow-up investigations showed 3 recurrences in the larynx so far. These were treated by laryngectomy. Recurrences in the cervical nodes were seen in two patients following resection of a supraglottic and a subglottic tumor. The authors believe that laser surgery may obviate the need for total laryngectomies in certain stages of laryngeal cancer, especially in T2 tumors. T3 tumors should not be treated by endolaryngeal laser surgery. At present, the number of recurrences and the rate of survival show no significant difference to those after conventional surgery. The phonatory function is not always predictable, and still needs to be investigated.