Oncologic outcomes of patients with positive margins after laser cordectomy for T1 and T2 glottic squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The oncologic impact of surgical margins after transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for T1 and T2 glottic carcinoma is controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic value of margin status in terms of local control. METHODS: Records of 266 patients treated from 1990 to 2013 were evaluated. Patients with previous cordectomy or without preoperative CT scan were excluded from the study. RESULTS: A total 110 patients (85 T1a, 8 T1b, and 17 T2) were enrolled. A local recurrence was observed in 23 patients. Five-year disease-free survival was significantly impaired in patients with positive margins (p = .009) and in patients with deep involvement of the vocal muscle (p = .004). CONCLUSION: The present study shows that invaded margin is a factor of poor local control even though laser vaporization was systematically applied after resection. In case of deep vocal fold involvement, TLM should be extended beyond the vocal muscle to improve local control. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1804-1809, 2016.