Critical analysis of recurrences after trans-oral endoscopic laser resection of laryngeal cancer

This study included 41 patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx 3-14 months after failed transoral endoscopic laser resection [TLS]. They were subjected to diagnostic and staging work up. The initial diagnostic data before performing TLS were analyzed. The patients were treated surgically according to the presenting stage, either by conservative laryngeal surgery [CLS] or by total laryngectomy [TL] with or without neck dissection. Deep X-ray therapy [DXT] was given to patients who were presented with T3 and T4 lesions if a full dose of DXT was not given after initial TLS. The patients were followed up for at least two years. Initially, 13 patients were presented with T1 disease, 9 with T2, 17 with T3 and 2 with T4. Three to 14 months after failed TLS, 22 patients developed a recurrent disease but of the same initial stage, while 19 developed a more advanced stage

Evaluation of diode laser and radiofrequency [coblation] tonsillectomy in comparison to conventional dissection technique

This study included 45 patients with chronic tonsillitis. They were selected and randomly divided into three groups [each including 15 patients]: Group I was subjected to diode laser tonsillectomy, group II was subjected to coblation tonsillectomy and group III were subjected to conventional dissection technique. All patients had to answer a questionnaire recording their pain score [from 0 to 5]. Each technique was assessed concerning the operative time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative pain score and postoperative complications. The data were collected and subjected to a statistical analysis. The mean operative time was 25, 23 and 15.3 minutes in groups I, II and III, respectively. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 12.8 ml in group I, 14.5 ml in group II and 80.4 in group III. The mean pain scores were less in groups I and II than group III. The maximum pain was felt at the 7th postoperative day in groups I and II comparing with group III who had their peak at the 4th postoperative day. There were no cases of reactionary or secondary hemorrhage