REVIEW   

Otorinolaringologia 2017 June;67(2):44-53

DOI: 10.23736/S0392-6621.17.02109-9

Copyright © 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Outcomes of transoral laser microsurgery in patients with cancer of the hypopharynx

Christian WELZ, Yiannis PILAVAKIS, Martin CANIS ✉

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

The aim of this review was to identify the existing literature and to present the oncologic outcomes of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in patients with cancer of the hypopharynx. Hypopharyngeal cancer has one of the worst prognosis amongst head and neck malignancies. In the last 30 years, therapy has shifted from debilitating surgical procedures into organ preserving regiments. TLM is widely accepted as an alternative strategy to conventional surgery and primary chemoradiotherapy. We provide a brief overview of the historical development of TLM for the treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer and its principles. Analysis of the existing data on TLM reveals equal oncologic outcomes in early stage carcinoma, and higher survival rates of patients with a moderately to advanced tumor stages compared to other organ preserving regiments. In addition, TLM provides excellent functional results and appears to offer an improved quality of life for these patients. We thus advocate the use of TLM which can be integrated into any therapeutic regimens while maintaining all salvage treatment options.

KEY WORDS: Lasers, gas - Outcome assessment (health care) - Hypopharyngeal neoplasms - Head and neck neoplasms