Source: Blood  |  Posted 5 years ago

By John Otrompke

CHICAGO, IL -- August 25, 2006 -- An endoscopic technique for surgically removing supraglottic squamous cell cancers may allow patients to experience earlier recovery of swallowing function and fewer tracheostomies, as well as lower disease recurrence rates,

The study was presented here at the annual meeting of the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS).

For Southwest Oncology Group trial S9709, Amit Agrawal, MD, head and neck surgeon, department of otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, and colleagues evaluated 34 patients with stage I, II or III supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma.

Patients underwent transoral carbon dioxide supraglottic laryngectomy, followed by radiotherapy, and the researchers evaluated 3-year progression-free survival.

Of 34 patients enrolled, 32 underwent adequate surgery and completed all planned courses of radiotherapy.

Four patients received temporary tracheostomies, and one patient experienced local disease recurrence.

Twenty-four patients (71%) had recovery of adequate oral intake in the early postoperative period, after a median of 2 days, according to the abstract.

The estimated 3-year progression-free survival rate was 79%.

The authors concluded that this treatment strategy is feasible and appears to achieve reasonable disease control.

[Presentation title: Phase 2 Trial of CO2 Laser Supraglottic Laryngectomy and Irradiation: Experience of the Southwest Oncology Group. Abstract s105]