Use of the 445-nm Blue Laser for Management of Early Glottic Carcinoma: Preliminary 1-Year Results.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze oncological efficacy and voice outcomes of the 445-nm blue laser (BL) in the treatment of early glottic carcinoma and compare results with the 532-nm potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser. STUDY DESIGN: Single institution, retrospective chart review. METHODS: All patients who underwent microlaryngoscopic KTP or BL laser excision of early glottic carcinoma from 2018 to the present day with at least 1-year follow-up were included. Primary and recurrent disease, including radiation and surgical failures, were included. Demographic data, voice outcomes and oncologic outcomes were compared between the two laser groups. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria for the BL group and 88 for the KTP group, with average follow-up of 635 and 1236 days, respectively. Oncologic outcomes were not significantly different, with disease-specific survival rates of 95.9% for BL and 100% for KTP (p = 0.13), organ preservation rates of 98.0% for BL and 95.6% for KTP (p = 0.39), and local control rates of 93.9% for BL and 92.1% for KTP (p = 0.81). Both BL and KTP groups showed significant improvement in CAPE-V (p = 0.04, 0.006 respectively) and VHI-10 scores (p = 0.003, <0.00001) following surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Photoangiolytic removal of early glottic carcinoma with BL appears to be equally safe and effective as with KTP laser at minimum one-year follow-up, and with excellent voice outcomes. Additional study will be warranted over time to assess long-term outcomes in BL patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Polysomnogram outcomes in patients with laryngomalacia and obstructive sleep apnoea treated surgically versus non-surgically.

OBJECTIVE: To compare supraglottoplasty versus non-surgical treatment in children with laryngomalacia and mild, moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnoea. METHODS: Patients were classified based on their obstructive apnoea hypopnoea index on initial polysomnogram, which was compared to their post-treatment polysomnogram. RESULTS: Eighteen patients underwent supraglottoplasty, and 12 patients had non-surgical treatment. The average obstructive apnoea hypopnoea index after supraglottoplasty fell by 12.68 events per hour (p = 0.0039) in the supraglottoplasty group and 3.3 events per hour (p = 0.3) in the non-surgical treatment group. Comparison of the change in obstructive apnoea hypopnoea index in the surgical versus non-surgical groups did not meet statistical significance (p = 0.09). CONCLUSION: All patients with laryngomalacia and obstructive sleep apnoea had a statistically significant improvement in obstructive apnoea hypopnoea index after supraglottoplasty irrespective of obstructive sleep apnoea severity, whereas patients who received non-surgical treatment had more variable and unpredictable results. Direct comparison of the change between the two groups did not find supraglottoplasty to be superior to non-surgical treatment. Larger prospective studies are recommended.

Geographic disparities in head and neck cancer survival in Upstate New York 2011-2019.

PURPOSE: To examine the association between distance to care-center and urban-rural residence on 5-year overall survival (OS) from head and neck cancer (HNC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five-year OS was retrospectively measured from date of initial diagnosis for patients with HNC treated at a single tertiary care center. Distances were calculated based on ZIP code of patient's residence and care center. Multilevel Weibull regression was used to adjust for confounders and identify disparities in 5-year all-cause mortality. RESULTS: A total of 670 patients included in study. Multivariable analysis revealed older age or late-stage cancer at diagnosis, and HPV negative status were associated with poorer OS. Patients residing in isolated small rural town (HR = 2.20, p = 0.015) or small rural town (HR = 2.07, p = 0.015) had lower OS. Distance to care center was not associated with OS (HR = 0.996, p = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: Greater rurality was associated with poorer OS among HNC patients in Upstate New York.