ORIGINAL ARTICLE ENDOSCOPIC LASER SURGERY OF EARLY GLOTTIC CANCER: INVOLVEMENT OF THE ANTERIOR COMMISSURE

Abstract: Background. Early glottic cancer can be cured with transoral laser resection, but in cases with anterior com-missure involvement, there is still controversy concerning the best treatment modality. Methods. The impact of anterior commissure involvement on local control was analyzed in a retrospective review of 444 patients with early glottic cancer (pT1a–pT2a) treated between 1986 and 2004 with transoral laser microsurgical resection. Results. The anterior commissure was involved in 153 cases; the 5-year local control rate with and without anterior commissure involvement was 73 % versus 89 % for T1a and 68 % versus 86 % for T1b tumors. For T2a lesions, the 5-year local control rate was 76%, irrespective of anterior commissure involvement. Conclusion. In early glottic cancer treated by transoral laser microsurgery, a decrease in local control is evident in case of anterior commissure involvement for T1a and T1b bu