Impact of resection margin status on oncological outcomes after CO2 laser cordectomy.

This study aims to assess the impact of margin status after transoral laser surgery on local control, survival and organ preservation rates; the decision- making process and treatment options in cases with positive margins are also discussed. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and histological records of 308 consecutive patients with primary early glottic carcinoma (T1a, T1b, selected T2) and treated with endoscopic laser cordectomy. Recurrence rates and survival related to margin status were analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Local relapses and disease-free-survival rates were significantly related to excision margin status (p < 0.001). In the T1a category (n = 228) no significant differences were observed in disease-free-survival (p = 0.889) and overall survival (p = 0.426) between patients submitted to further treatment (revision endoscopic surgery or radiotherapy) for positive excision margins and patients who were left untreated. In 20 of 24 (83%) patients with positive margins that were surgically re-excised, no residual carcinoma was detected. Margin status (mainly multifocal and deep positive margins) at first surgery was significantly related to the final organ preservation rate (p < 0.001). Margin status during laser cordectomy in early glottic cancer has a prognostic impact on local control of disease without compromising survival. Patients with multifocal and deep positive borders should be surgically retreated and strictly monitored to increase t...
Source: Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica - Category: ENT & OMF Tags: Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital Source Type: research