Oncological outcomes of surgical treatment of early laryngeal cancer

Introduction. Laryngeal cancer is an important oncological problem. The vocal fold is most commonly affected. The main treatment modalities for localized laryngeal cancer are organ-preserving surgery or radiation therapy. Recently, more specialists have been giving preference to endolaryngeal laser resections as the primary treatment method.

Aim. To analyze the oncological outcomes of endolaryngeal laser resections in patients with localized forms of laryngeal cancer.

Materials and methods. The study included 172 primary patients with squamous cell laryngeal cancer cT1–T2 who were treated in the head and neck tumor department of N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology from 2015 to 2025. The extent of tumor process was assessed as cT1a in 71 (41 %) patients, cT1b in 30 (18 %) patients, and cT2 in 71 (41 %) patients.

Results. The overall 2- and 5-year survival rates were 97.7 % and 94.7 %, respectively. Disease-free 2- and 5-year survival rates were 95.9 % and 92.4 %, respectively. Local recurrence developed in 12 % (n = 21) of patients. Among all patients included in the study, laryngectomy was performed in 4 % (n = 7) of patients.

Conclusion. Endolaryngeal laser resections are the treatment of choice for localized squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. Radiation therapy should be considered as an alternative when surgery is not possible or the patient refuses surgical treatment.