Lasers in Office-Based Laryngology

The use of lasers for the treatment of benign and premalignant pathology in the awake patient is well established. With appropriate safety precautions, patient selection, and preparation, many patients can benefit from this procedure. This technique is typically associated with lower cost and decreased anesthetic risk without delaying care. Similar outcomes to direct microlaryngoscopic approaches have been shown for papilloma, benign vocal fold lesions, and dysplasia. For many patients, this provides an ideal alternative to treatment under general anesthesia in the operating room.