Evaluation of treatment results with regard to initial anterior commissure involvement in early glottic carcinoma treated by external partial surgery or transoral laser microresection.

BACKGROUND Modalities of surgical treatment of early glottic carcinoma include transoral laser microresection and external partial surgery. METHODS This is a retrospective analysis of 119 glottic carcinomas treated by external partial surgery (57 pT1a, 1 pT1b, 10 pT2) or transoral laser microresection (46 pT1a, 4 pT1b, 1 pT2) with special regard to initial anterior commissure involvement. RESULTS Local recurrence in external partial surgery was 12%. Three- and 5-year local control was 86%. Local recurrence in transoral laser microresection was 16%. Three- and 5-year local control was 88% and 70%, respectively. No significant correlation was found between local control and surgical approach. An analysis of all 119 tumor revealed that anterior commissure involvement significantly decreased local control. CONCLUSION Initial anterior commissure involvement was associated with a higher risk of local recurrence. Overall, treatment of glottic carcinoma involving the anterior commissure requires much experience and advanced surgical skills regardless which technique is preferred.