Transoral laser microsurgery

Acronyms and abbreviations are frequently used in otorhinolaryngology and other medical specialties. CO2 laser-assisted transoral surgery of the pharynx, the larynx and the upper airway is a family of commonly performed surgical procedures termed transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). The abbreviation TLM can be confusing because of alternative modes of delivery. Classification and definition of the different types of procedures, performed transorally or transnasally, are proposed by the Working Committee for Nomenclature of the European Laryngological Society, emphasizing the type of laser used and the way this laser is transmitted...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the recovery kinetics of voice and quality of life (QOL) over time in patients with early glottic cancer who underwent transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted in which acoustic and aerodynamic voice assessments and QOL analyses were done using health-related questionnaires (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30-questions [EORTC-QLQ-C30] and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Head and Neck 35-questions [EORTC-QLQ-H&N35]) were administered at designated times...

An unblinded retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was carried out on 138 patients affected by glottic pT2 and selected pT3 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) treated by transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). The entire cohort was divided into two groups: Group A included 78 "high-risk" patients (pT2 with impaired vocal cord mobility, pT3 for anterior paraglottic and/or pre-epiglottic space invasion, presence of angioembolization, perineural spread, and positive lymph nodes in the neck) who underwent postoperative surveillance by endoscopy and imaging (CT or MR), while Group B included 60 "low-risk" patients (pT2 with absence of the above-mentioned features) who underwent endoscopic follow-up alone...

BACKGROUND: Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) is used to treat early and select cases of moderately advanced glottic cancer, with results equivalent to those of conventional conservative surgery and radiotherapy (RT). As surgeons and researchers become more experienced and familiar with TLM, they can focus on mechanisms to earlier detect local recurrence, to more effectively preserve laryngeal function. This study analyzed the predictors of local recurrence in glottic cancer patients who underwent TLM...

BACKGROUND: The oncologic and functional outcome of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for primary treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer was examined in a multimodal treatment concept. METHODS: Two hundred eleven patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the hypopharynx (pT1-4a, pN0-2, M0) were treated by TLM +/- neck dissection (88%) +/- (chemo)radiotherapy ([C]RT; 51%). The majority of cases were advanced stages III and IVa (85%). RESULTS: The 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimates for local control after TLM were pT category-related 88...

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment method of T1 glottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with involvement of the anterior commissure is still debatable. We compared the outcomes of radiotherapy (RT) and transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected for 54 patients who were treated by RT (n = 38) or TLM (n = 16) from 2006 to 2013. RESULTS: No between-group differences were found in demographic or risk factors...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this report is to identify relevant literature reports on salvage transoral laser microsurgery (TLM); to consider its oncologic and functional outcomes, as well as reported complications; and to address indications and limitations of salvage TLM. FINDINGS: The weighted average of local control after first salvage TLM was 57%. Repeated TLM procedures for second or third recurrences were required in up to 41% of cases, resulting in a weighted average of local control with TLM alone of 67%...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To give an overview of the evolvement of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in the treatment of early glottic carcinoma and highlight the contribution of recent literature. RECENT FINDINGS: The indications and limits of TLM have been well specified. Effects on swallowing have been well documented. Introduction of narrow-band imaging (NBI) and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance has been shown of additional value for outcome. The first reports on transoral robotic surgery show that it may be of added value in the future...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Treatment options for early laryngeal cancer are well established with good local control and 5-year survival. The commonest treatments are radiotherapy or transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). There are advantages and disadvantages of the different modalities, but debate continues regarding the voice outcomes posttreatment. This review will focus on early glottic carcinoma and voice outcomes following the different treatments. RECENT FINDINGS: TLM and radiotherapy are both likely to affect voice quality, but the extent of voice change depends on different factors...

Transoral Laser Microsurgeries (TLM) demand a great level of control and precision in intraoperative tissue manipulation. The optimal eradication of the diseased tissue is possible only with coordinated control of the laser aiming for incision and the microsurgical tools for orienting and stretching the tissue. However, the traditional microsurgical tools are long, single purpose, one degree-of-freedom (DOF), rigid tools with small range of motion and a normal grasping handle inducing non-ergonomic usage. This paper presents a novel, modular microsurgical tool to overcome the challenges of the traditional tools and improve the surgeon-tool usage experience...

In this paper, a novel, motorized, multi-degrees-of-freedom (DoF), microsurgical forceps tool is presented, which is based on a master-slave teleoperation architecture. The slave device is a 7-DoF manipulator with: (i) 6-DoF positioning and orientation, (ii) 1 open/close gripper DoF; and (iii) an integrated force/torque sensor for tissue grip-force measurement. The master device is a 7-DoF haptic interface which teleoperates the slave device, and provides haptic feedback in its gripper interface. The combination of the device and the surgeon interface replaces the manual, hand-held device providing easy-to-use and ergonomic tissue control, simplifying the surgical tasks...

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment options for local recurrences of laryngeal cancer can be either organ-preserving surgery or total laryngectomy. The purpose of this study was to present our evaluation of the treatment with transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in comparison to laryngectomy. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 199 consecutive patients with recurrent laryngeal cancer at 1 tertiary referral center. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival, disease-specific survival, and local control rates were 64...

Transoral Laser Microsurgeries (TLM) demand a great level of control and precision in intraoperative tissue manipulation. The optimal eradication of the diseased tissue is possible only with coordinated control of the laser aiming for incision and the microsurgical tools for orienting and stretching the tissue. However, the traditional microsurgical tools are long, single purpose, one degree-of-freedom (DOF), rigid tools with small range of motion and a normal grasping handle inducing non-ergonomic usage. This paper presents a novel, modular microsurgical tool to overcome the challenges of the traditional tools and improve the surgeon-tool usage experience...

In this paper, a novel, motorized, multi-degrees-of-freedom (DoF), microsurgical forceps tool is presented, which is based on a master-slave teleoperation architecture. The slave device is a 7-DoF manipulator with: (i) 6-DoF positioning and orientation, (ii) 1 open/close gripper DoF; and (iii) an integrated force/torque sensor for tissue grip-force measurement. The master device is a 7-DoF haptic interface which teleoperates the slave device, and provides haptic feedback in its gripper interface. The combination of the device and the surgeon interface replaces the manual, hand-held device providing easy-to-use and ergonomic tissue control, simplifying the surgical tasks...

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the oncological and voice outcomes of transoral laser microsurgery for tumour stage T1b stage glottic cancer patients. METHODS: A prospective cohort study in a tertiary care head and neck cancer centre included tumour-node-metastasis stage T1bN0M0 glottic cancer patients scheduled to undergo transoral laser microsurgery from January 2002 until June 2014. Kaplan-Meier five-year analyses of local control, overall survival, disease-specific survival and laryngeal preservation were performed...

OBJECTIVE: Cancer of the hypopharynx remains one of the most challenging chapters in head and neck oncology. The objective of this study is to ascertain the relevance of a transoral laser approach as a valid functional option for treatment of cancer of the hypopharynx in Portugal, and additionally, to confirm the reproducibility of survival and functional outcomes described in other reference centers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The outcomes of 37 out of 60 patients presenting hypopharyngeal carcinoma primarily treated by TLM (transoral laser microsurgery) and neck dissection and or adjuvant treatment when needed, with curative intention in tertiary referral center, were retrospectively evaluated and compared with published results...

The treatment of supraglottic carcinoma remains a controversial issue. Five accepted surgical and non-surgical oncological treatments have been currently established: standard horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy (HSL), supraglottic CO2 laser microsurgery (TLM), transoral robotic surgery, radiotherapy alone and radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy. Some studies have shown that complications of head and neck surgeries increase significantly in patients over 65 years compared to younger patients. We designed a retrospective analysis to assess the rate of complications and functional outcomes of patients treated by TLM and HSL in cases of T1-T3 supraglottic squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) in a tertiary University Hospital...

A 56-year-old female with a background of metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma presented with a subglottic mass causing biphasic stridor. Transoral laser microsurgery and the use of fibrin glue prevented the need for tracheostomy. Six months postoperatively there was no evidence of recurrence. Laryngeal metastasis of colorectal adenocarcinoma, although remarkably rare, is perhaps more prevalent than commonly perceived and the presence of laryngeal symptoms in a patient with colorectal adenocarcinoma should raise concern...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide clinicians with a critical review of outcomes for endolaryngeal surgery and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for early-stage supraglottic cancer. RECENT FINDINGS: A total of 971 potential articles were reviewed, with inclusion of 14 studies comparing IMRT with transoral surgery. One study analyzed IMRT, one transoral robotic surgery, and the remaining were transoral laser microsurgery studies. A weighted average and 95% confidence interval of all surgery patients showed a local control of 90...

For the treatment of T1b glottic carcinoma, different treatment options, such as transoral laser microsurgery, open surgical techniques, and primary radiotherapy, are under discussion. In this context, the aim of the present study was to describe oncologic results and complication rates of transoral laser microsurgery in treatment of T1b glottic carcinoma. This is a retrospective unicenter chart review of patients treated at an academic tertiary referral center between 1986 and 2006. Fifty-one previously untreated T1b cases were exclusively treated by transoral laser microsurgery and included into this study, 47 were male, and 4 were female...