Transoral en bloc resection of superficial laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers.

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive transoral en bloc resection of superficial pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers. METHODS Forty-one superficial lesions (from 35 patients) were resected transorally under a surgical microscope using a monopolar cautery. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using a questionnaire European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) 1 year after the surgery. RESULTS Twenty-eight hypopharyngeal, 5 oropharyngeal, and 8 laryngeal cancers were operated on using this method. The surgical field was widely exposed with a wide-caliber scope or extending laryngoscope. A bimanual procedure under a surgical microscope enabled us to achieve en bloc resection. The local control rate was 98%. No postoperative dyspnea or dysphagia was observed. Postoperative QOL scores were favorable. CONCLUSIONS Our transoral en bloc resection technique can be easily adopted, and it effectively maintained QOL after treatment.