Long-Term Outcomes of End-Flexible-Rigidscopic Transoral Surgery for Pharyngolaryngeal Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: End-flexible-rigidscopic transoral surgery (E-TOS) is a new and minimally invasive transoral surgery for resection of Tis-selected T3 pharyngolaryngeal cancers. We evaluated long-term oncological outcomes and whether postoperative voice and swallowing function were preserved following E-TOS. METHODS: In this retrospective single-center study, 154 patients treated with E-TOS using a curved retractor, flexible-tip rigid endoscope, and thin curved instruments were included. Their survival rate, larynx preservation rate, and disease control rate were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Postoperative voice function was evaluated using both objective and subjective tests. Postoperative swallowing function was assessed using the Hyodo score and the functional outcome swallowing scale. RESULTS: The 3-year and 5-year overall survival, disease-specific survival, disease-free survival, laryngectomy-free survival, local control, and loco-regional control rates post E-TOS were 89.8% and 82.2%, 95.6% and 92.3%, 78.5% and 70.3%, 87.2% and 80.9%, 93.9% and 92.5%, and 87.2% and 85.7%, respectively. Both objective and subjective postoperative voice and swallowing function tests were within normal limits in more than 90% of the patients. CONCLUSION: E-TOS is an effective, safe, low-cost, and minimally invasive transoral surgery for Tis-selected T3 pharyngolaryngeal cancer; it also preserves postoperative voice, larynx, and swallowing function. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 133:1415-1424, 2023.

[Clinical study of congenital cholesteatoma of the middle ear].

We studied 35 ears of 34 patients with congenital cholesteatoma who were operated between June 1992 and May 2003, focusing on the localization and progression of congenital cholesteatoma. Patients were 2 to 55 years of age. Congenital cholesteatoma was diagnosed based on two intraoperative findings: 1) no continuity between the tympanic membrane and cholesteatoma, 2) no presence of perforation, retraction, or granulation of the tympanic membrane. All patients had closed-type cholesteatoma, and none formed open-type cholesteatoma, which grows as a flat sheet of epidermis. The primary site of congenital cholesteatoma was classified into 3 types; 1) anterior-superior quadrant, 2) posterior-superior quadrant, and 3) epitympanic, and the origin of these three types of congenital cholesteatoma was difficult to explain by a single theory. We operated on 31 ears by canal wall up tympanoplasty and on 4 ears by canal wall down tympanoplasty. On all but 4 ears, we performed planned-staged operation, including second-look operations, in case of recurrence or residual cholesteatoma. Improvement in hearing after surgery was seen in 22 of the 26 ears treated and followed up for more than 6 months after surgery. By drawing all localization of congenital cholesteatoma in 35 ears, we studied the progression of congenital cholesteatoma and speculated on the original primary site. Congenital cholesteatoma in restricted areas consequently implies good results in hearing after surgery, making earlier diagnosis and treatment desirable.

[Congenital auditory ossicle malformation without external ear abnormality].

In 29 ears of 24 patients with auditory ossicle malformation, but without external ear abnormalities, who were operated on at our clinic in the 10 years between June 1993 and June 2002, we studied the condition of ossicles, preoperative examination, surgical procedures, and postoperative hearing improvement. Our study did not include patients with cholesteatoma or those with only fixed stapes but without ossicular deformity. Samples were 12 ears of 11 men and 17 ears of 13 women. We clinically distinguished 3 major categories: (i) discontinuity between the incus and stapes with mobile stapes, (ii) congenital fixation of the stapes with ossicular deformity, and (iii) congenital fixation of the malleus and deformity of the incus with mobile stapes. We classified each category into minor abnormalities based on the condition of the long process of the incus, the superstructure of the stapes, and the stapes footplate. We conducted auditory ossicle reconstruction by mobilization of the malleus and incus in 2 ears, by type III tympanoplasty in 5 ears, by type IV tympanoplasty in 13 ears, and by stapes surgery in 8 ears. Improvement in hearing after the operation was observed in 25 of the 29 ears treated. In the classification of the auditory ossicle malformation without external ear abnormalities, we should evaluate discontinuity or fixation of the ossicles and their deformity. This requires that varied ossicular reconstruction be prepared for surgery, but the possibility of hearing improvement is high, so intensive treatment is needed in many cases of auditory ossicle malformation.