Background We conducted longitudinal voice evaluations in patients with early glottic cancer who underwent transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) to determine the time to stability. Methods Twenty‐five patients underwent TLM, including 13 limited cordectomies (type I and type II) and 12 extended cordectomies (type III to type IV). Multidimensional voice evaluations were performed before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. Results Voice parameters of asthenicity, strain, mean airflow rate (MFR), voice handicap index (VHI)–functional, VHI–physical, and VHI–total scores improved in all patients. Most patients had improved 6 months after TLM. Patients with extended cordectomy showed higher breathiness, MFR, VHI–functional, and VHI–total scores. Healing was complete in all cases by 6 months and in a majority of cases (76%) by 3 months. Conclusions Voice quality achieved stability 6 months after TLM. Comparing treatment outcomes and surgical intervention are not recommended within 6 months of surgery. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012

Patients who underwent ELM demonstrated a shorter decannulation period (7 vs 11 days, p = 0.010), time using a nasogastric tube (7 vs 16 days, p = 0.043), and hospitalization stay (12 vs 22 days, p = 0.0061) than those who underwent OPLP. The 3-year overall and disease-specific survival rates were comparable between ELM and OPLP (79% vs 64%, p = 0.151, and 83% vs 71%, p = 0.320, respectively). The ELM patients had better laryngeal preservation (92% vs 71%, p = 0.048). The number of OPLPs performed has decreased since 2000 (68% before vs 32% after, p < 0.0001).

TLM may provide comparable, if not better, QOL for patients relative to the other therapeutic regimens for selective advanced cases of hypopharyngeal cancer.

After appropriate management of airway obstruction, the postoperative complications and oncologic results were similar to those without airway obstruction.

Background: Esophageal second primary neoplasms (ESPNs) are common in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) patients and are associated with poor prognoses. The effectiveness of image-enhanced endoscopy (IEE) has not been well established. Methods: We reviewed the patients between April 2016 and April 2018 with HPSCC receiving ESPNs screening via white-light imaging, narrow-band imaging, and Lugol chromoendoscopy. Results: Of 99 eligible patients, ESPNs prevalence was 31%. Of the 69 patients assigned to the follow-up group, 23 with positive findings showed significantly increased previous histories of second primary malignancies in the upper aerodigestive tract. Among them, patients without symptoms at the time of IEE screening showed less advanced T stages and higher percentages of receiving minimal invasive therapy. Conclusion: The present study represented the clinical utility of routine IEE screening in HPSCC patients and proposed routine surveillance may help identify and properly manage early-stage ESPN.