[Initial experiences with endolaryngeal CO2-laser surgery in circumscribed laryngeal cancer]

Minimal intraoperative bleeding, the advantage of precise cutting under microscopic control, and the near total absence of postoperative edema make the CO2-laser particularly suited for endolaryngeal surgery. Between October 1978 and July 1982, 22 patients with early carcinoma of the larynx (8 carcinoma in situ, 2 verrucous carcinoma, 12 T1 true vocal cord carcinoma) have undergone endolaryngeal resection with the CO2-laser at the ENT-Department of the University Hospital of Zurich. All patients were hospitalized for three to four days. None of them needed a tracheostomy. Follow-up ranges from three month to four years (average 17 months). So far there have been no recurrences. The quality of the postoperative voice varies from poor to fairly good, depending on the extent of the resection and on the amount of scarring. Compared to conventional chordectomy via laryngofissure, which necessitates tracheostomy, endolaryngeal laser-chordectomie is tolerated better and more cost-effective. Recurrences after endolaryngeal laser-chordectomy are still amenable to voice-saving radiation therapy.