Introduction

Transoral laser surgery (TOLS) is widely used for treatment of early stage glottic carcinoma. The development of scars or other benign lesions can impair the clinical assessment and diagnosis of recurrences - thus, second look microlaryngoscopies (MLS) may be helpful in the early detection of recurrences. In the present study, the results of second look MLS were examined with regard to the detection of recurrences in clinically inconspicuous laryngeal findings.

Material and methods

The study retrospectively assessed the outcomes of second look MLS in patients treated with TOLS for early stage glottic carcinoma. The evaluation included clinical laryngoscopic and histological findings of the biopsies of the previous tumor site.

Results

Most of our patients underwent two second look MLS. Preoperative indirect examination of the tumor site frequently revealed benign lesions while suspected recurrences were rarely detected. The first second look MLS was particularly advantageous in treating benign postoperative lesions. The majority of recurrences occurred during the clinical follow-up after completion of the second look MLS.

Discussion

The German S3 laryngeal cancer guideline recommends second look MLS only in cases of delayed healing, clinical suspicion of recurrence and narrow resection margins. Our findings reveal a comparable pattern to the existing literature in regards to the rate of recurrences within the patient populace. Further research is needed to assess the impact of potential predictive factors on the detection rate of second look MLS findings.

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