Laser excision of early vocal cord carcinoma: indications, limitations, and precautions.

Forty-six patients referred for laser surgery of early vocal cord carcinoma were treated by laser excisional techniques with or without radiotherapy. Mean follow-up was 3.5 years. There was a 90% rate of carcinoma control (18 of 20 patients) in patients with untreated mid-vocal cord T1 carcinomas without involvement of the anterior commissure or vocal process or deep muscle invasion. Larger, more invasive T1 vocal cord tumors (13 patients) had laser excision followed by radiotherapy without recurrence. Careful patient selection and accurate histopathologic evaluation are key elements for successful treatment.