Enoral laser microsurgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to investigate oncological and functional results of enoral laser microsurgery in treatment for cancer of the oral cavity. METHODS A retrospective chart analysis was carried out. Two hundred thirty-two patients with cancer of the oral cavity were treated by enoral laser microsurgery ± selective neck dissection ± postoperative (chemo)radiotherapy. RESULTS Seventy-three percent of the patients (n = 170) received a unilateral or bilateral selective or modified radical neck dissection, 32% (n = 75) received adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy. The median follow-up period was 71.89 months. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 54.6%, recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 60.2%, and disease-specific survival (DSS) was 70.3%. Nasogastric feeding tubes were needed in 96 patients, only 2 patients required a temporary gastrostomy tube. CONCLUSION Enoral laser microsurgery is an efficient therapeutic option in the treatment of oral cavity cancer. Oncological and functional results are comparable to any other treatment regimen, whereas morbidity and complications tend to be lower.