Oncologic results of transoral laser microsurgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the posterior pharyngeal wall

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate oncologic outcomes of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in patients with cancer of the oropharyngeal and/or hypopharyngeal posterior wall. Methods Between August 1986 and December 2006, 25 patients (oropharyngeal n  = 12; hypopharyngeal n  = 13) were treated by primary CO 2 laser microsurgery. Treatment was exclusively TLM with or without selective neck dissection in 12 cases (48%); TLM with adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy was performed in 13 cases (52%). Results Data were analyzed by using the Kaplan–Meier method. The median follow‐up was 41.6 months. The 5‐year overall, recurrence‐free, and disease‐specific survival rates for stages I/II were 36,5%, 60,0%, and 87,5% and for stages III/IVa 41,2%, 36,4%, and 56,3%, respectively. Conclusion With respect to local control and survival, results are comparable to conventional surgery. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37 : 156‐161, 2015