Five-Year Outcomes of Transoral Laser Microsurgery for Early-Stage Glottic Cancer: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Background This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of patients with early-stage glottic laryngeal cancer treated by transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) at Ho Chi Minh City ENT Hospital over a five-year period. Methods Ninety-six patients diagnosed with T1-T2N0M0 glottic squamous cell carcinoma and treated exclusively with TLM between 2018 and 2020 were included. Surgical procedures were performed according to the European Laryngological Society classification of endoscopic cordectomies. Outcomes assessed included local control, overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), postoperative complications, and functional voice and swallowing preservation over a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Results The 5-year local control rate was 91.7%, with an overall survival rate of 89.6% and disease-specific survival of 100%. Postoperative complications were minimal and manageable, with no permanent tracheostomy or feeding tubes required. The majority of patients maintained satisfactory voice and swallowing function. Conclusions Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) demonstrates favorable oncologic efficacy and functional preservation in the treatment of early-stage glottic laryngeal cancer. The ability to achieve organ preservation without compromising oncologic safety highlights TLM as a preferred therapeutic option for patients with T1-T2 glottic carcinoma.