Laser Treatment for Laryngeal and Tracheal Diseases at Kagoshima University

Two hundred eighty-six cases of tracheal and laryngeal diseases were treated with laser therapy for 13 years at our hospital. These included CO2 laser operations in 178 cases, contact Nd: YAG laser operations in 100 cases, and non-contact Nd: YAG laser operations with flexible fiberscope in 8 cases. Non-contact Nd: YAG laser operations were useful in cases of tracheal (bronchial) tumors and stenosis. Contact Nd: YAG laser operations were valuable for open surgery (laryngectomy, radical neck-dissection etc.). Microscopic CO2 laser operations were useful in cases of laryngeal diseases and especially laryngeal cancer (Tla). In such laser operations, the character of each laser operation must be considered in conjunction with the nature of the disease to be treated.