A comparison of histopathological results of conventional surgery and transoral radiofrequency ablation in early stage laryngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare histopathological results of conventional surgery and transoral radiofrequency ablation in patients with early stage laryngeal carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2006 and May 2010, 36 patients (34 males, 2 females; mean age 61.6 years; range 43 to 77 years) who underwent partial laryngectomy in our clinic were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were randomized to partial laryngectomy with radiofrequency ablation or conventional surgery. Hoarseness due to early stage T1 and selected T2N0 vocal cord lesions was an indication for surgery. Of 20 patients receiving conventional surgery, 14 underwent partial laryngectomy, while six patients underwent cordectomy for the excision of tumors. Tumors were excised by transoral radiofrequency ablation in 16 patients. RESULTS: We observed thermal artifacts in four patients undergoing conventional surgery and in 13 patients undergoing transoral radiofrequency ablation. There was also hemorrhage in 16 patients undergoing conventional surgery and in seven patients undergoing transoral radiofrequency ablation. Histopathological examination revealed that the surgical margins were safe in 10 patients after radiofrequency ablation. The specimens obtained from six patients showed thermal artifacts which complicated histopathological examination. Sixteen (80%) of 20 conventional surgery patients and nine (56%) of 16 radiofrequency ablation patients had safe surgical margins. CONCLUSION: In radiofrequency ablation, the surgical zone must be larger than in conventional surgery due to the high risk of tissue damage and complicated histopathological examination.

[Long-term results of transnasal radiofrequency in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]. / Obstrüktif uyku apnesi sendromu olan hastalarda transnazal radyofrekansin uzun dönem sonuçlari

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the long-term effects of radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFTA) performed to the inferior concha on snoring, apnea index, and daytime sleepiness symptoms in patients who presents with the complaint of snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between March 2009 and May 2011, 50 patients (29 females, 21 males; mean age 40.7 years; range 19 to 64 years) who had witnessed sleep apnea and diagnosed with mild OSAS as assessed by polysomnographic analysis in our clinic were included in the study. Twenty-five patients with the history of witnessed sleep apnea underwent sleep analysis using conventional polysomnography (PSG), while portable PSG device was used in other 25 patients. During the follow-up visits, all patients who underwent tissue ablation using RF were assessed by the baseline examination method. Following the polysomnographic analysis, RFTA was performed to the inferior concha of all patients. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 18.7 months (range 6-26 months). In the group who underwent conventional PSG, the mean pre-treatment apnea-hipopnea index (AHI) was 11.356±2.9841, while the mean post-treatment AHI was 9.93±2.822. In the group who underwent portable PSG, the mean pre-treatment AHI was 9.196±3.2696, whereas the mean post-treatment AHI was 8.04±3.241. In two patients (4%), inferior concha ulceration was detected. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency used in the treatment of mild OSAS results in better patient compliance and post-treatment patient comfort, as well as lower post-treatment morbidity and complication rate, compared to conventional surgical techniques.