Transoral laser microsurgery for recurrence after primary radiotherapy of early glottic cancer

Abstract Objective To analyze oncological results of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) on recurrent early glottic cancer after primary radiotherapy. Methods The records of 53 patients treated by TLM for early (rTis–rT2) and advanced (rT3, rT4) recurrence after curative radiotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. Data on loco-regional control, overall survival, and disease specific survival were calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method. The larynx preservation rates were given absolutely. Results Mean post-therapeutic follow-up time after TLM for patients alive was 87.9 months. Twenty-two patients (42%) were cured by the first TLM procedure, but one of them underwent total laryngectomy after TLM due to chondronecrosis without evidence of residual tumor. Thirty-one patients (58%) developed another recurrence after TLM. Ten of them were cured by further laser procedures alone. Therefore, in 31 patients (58%), local recurrences were successfully treated by TLM alone. In 20 patients, recurrences could not be controlled by TLM: 14 patients underwent salvage laryngectomy and six palliative treatment. Three- and five-year loco-regional control rates for all patients were 46.1 and 38.8%. Three- and five-year overall survival rates were 67.5 and 53.3%. The corresponding 3- and 5-year disease specific survival rates were 68.6%, each. There was no statistically significant difference in loco-regional control or survival between patients presenting initially with early and advanced recurrence. Further recurrence after the first TLM procedure was associated with a statistically significant decrease in 3- and 5-year overall (56.6% vs. 81.8% and 40.2% vs. 70.5%; p  = 0.03) and disease specific (48.9% vs. 100%, each; p  = 0.001) survival. Ultimate local control rate including repeated TLM and salvage laryngectomy was 77.4%. Conclusions Many patients with recurrent glottic carcinoma after primary radiotherapy can be cured by single or repeated TLM as an organ-preserving procedure. However, in case of failure after TLM for the first recurrence, salvage laryngectomy should be considered early as local control by further laser surgery is unfavorable.