Idiopathic subglottic stenosis describes subglottic stenosis where no inflammatory, traumatic, iatrogenic or other causative aetiology can be identified. The present study aimed to outline our institution's experience of patients diagnosed with idiopathic subglottic stenosis and describe a very rarely reported familial association.

A retrospective review was conducted of prospectively maintained medical records from 2011 to 2020. Patient clinical, radiological and intra-operative data were reviewed to assess for defined endpoints.

Ten patients with idiopathic subglottic stenosis were identified in this series. One familial pairing was identified, with two sisters presenting with the condition. Successful treatment with carbon dioxide laser and dilatation was achieved in most cases.

Idiopathic subglottic stenosis represents a rare, clinically challenging pathology. Management with endoscopic laser and balloon dilatation is an effective treatment. This paper highlights a very rare familial association, and describes our experience in treating idiopathic subglottic stenosis.

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of granulation tissue after endoscopic carbon dioxide laser surgery for glottic cancer.

This was a retrospective review of 36 patients who underwent endoscopic carbon dioxide laser surgery for T1 and T2 glottic cancer. Post-operative, endoscopic examinations were rated by three blinded otolaryngologists for time to heal and presence of granulation. Patient and surgical factors were compared with time to heal and granulation.

A total of 16 of 36 wounds (44 per cent) developed granulation tissue, and 24 wounds (67 per cent) healed without requiring surgical intervention. A total of 7 of 8 wounds biopsied more than 3.5 months after surgery had persistent cancer versus 1 of 4 wounds biopsied at equal to or less than 3.5 months (85.7 per cent vs 25 per cent; p = 0.03). Biopsy at more than 3.5 months was associated with 28-fold increased odds of cancer in biopsy compared with biopsy at equal to or less than 3.5 months (odds ratio, 28.0; 95 per cent confidence interval, 1.088–373.3).

After carbon dioxide laser surgery for glottic cancer, development of granulation tissue is common. Granulation that persists for more than 3.5 months necessitates biopsy because of increased risk of persistent cancer.

Current evidence suggests there is no difference between endoscopic laser surgery and radiotherapy with regards to oncological outcomes of early laryngeal cancer. Patient management may therefore be directed towards voice and quality of life outcomes. This systematic review compares functional outcomes with respect to voice character, swallowing outcomes and quality of life for endoscopic laser surgery versus radiotherapy for T1 and T2 stage laryngeal carcinoma.

Search terminology was designed by both authors and used in Cochrane, PubMed and Web of Science databases. Studies of adult patients treated for primary T1 and T2 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma utilising one objective (validated) measure of quality of life, swallowing or voice were included.

Initial searches identified 1767 studies. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 42 studies were identified for full-text review.

This review concluded that neither treatment is clearly advantageous. Future research should be composed of further prospective studies that use a standardised assessment regime to allow valid comparison.

To assess the feasibility and outcomes of flexible carbon dioxide laser surgery in a clinic-based setting.

A prospective study was conducted in a tertiary centre. Clinical indications, clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction were assessed in patients treated with flexible carbon dioxide laser surgery via transnasal endoscopy and followed up over a period of up to nine months. Patients who were not fit for general anaesthesia or those with lesions that cannot be accessed by micro-laryngoscopy were included.

A total of 13 patients (14 procedures) were included. Clinical indications for surgery were small-to-medium sized benign pathologies in the upper aero-digestive tract. Patient satisfaction was assessed using a validated questionnaire.

Early data suggest that flexible carbon dioxide laser is a versatile and feasible instrument with potential applications for a range of benign pathologies in the upper aero-digestive tract.

This study aimed to evaluate the oncological and voice outcomes of transoral laser microsurgery for tumour stage T1b stage glottic cancer patients.

A prospective cohort study in a tertiary care head and neck cancer centre included tumour–node–metastasis stage T1bN0M0 glottic cancer patients scheduled to undergo transoral laser microsurgery from January 2002 until June 2014. Kaplan–Meier five-year analyses of local control, overall survival, disease-specific survival and laryngeal preservation were performed. Voice Handicap Index-10 scores and maximum phonation times were also recorded.

Twenty-one participants with a mean age of 66.8 years were enrolled. The mean follow up was 56.5 months. Kaplan–Meier 5-year survival analysis illustrated a local control rate of 82 per cent, overall survival of 88 per cent, disease-specific survival of 100 per cent, and laryngeal preservation of 100 per cent. The pre-operative Voice Handicap Index-10 score was 19.1 ± 9.47 (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) and the post-operative scores were 13.5 ± 9.29 at three months, 10.44 ± 9.70 at one year and 5.83 ± 4.91 at two years. The pre-operative maximum phonation time was 16.23 ± 5.46 seconds (mean ± SD) and the post-operative values were 14.44 ± 6.73 seconds at three months, 15.27 ± 5.71 seconds at one year and 14.33 ± 6.44 seconds at two years.

Transoral laser microsurgery yields relatively high rates of oncological control and acceptable voice outcomes, and thus shows utility as a primary treatment modality for T1b glottic cancer.

Oropharyngeal cancer is increasing in prevalence in the UK and this is thought to be due to the emergence of disease related to human papilloma virus.

A literature review was conducted on the diagnosis and latest management of oropharyngeal cancer.

In non-smokers, human papilloma virus related disease is thought to have better outcomes, but this casts doubt on previous research which did not stratify patients according to human papilloma virus status. However, this theory provides a route for researchers to risk stratify and de-escalate treatments, and hence reduce treatment burden. In addition, the emergence of minimally invasive transoral techniques allows surgeons to remove large tumours without many of the side effects associated with radical (chemo)radiotherapy.

The emergence of human papilloma virus related disease and minimally invasive techniques have led the clinical and academic community to reconsider how oropharyngeal cancer is managed. Comparative and risk-stratification trials are urgently required and ongoing.

A systematic review was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of different therapeutic interventions available for the management of isolated cricopharyngeal dysfunction.

Studies were identified using the following databases: Ovid (Medline, Embase), the Cochrane Library, PubMed and Google Scholar. An initial search identified 339 articles. All titles and abstracts were reviewed. Fifty-six relevant articles were inspected in more detail; of these, 47 were included in the qualitative analysis.

No relevant randomised trials were found. A range of case series were used to perform a qualitative analysis. Botulinum toxin A injection and cricopharyngeal dilatation were associated with a higher risk of recurrence, but appear to be more suitable in elderly and co-morbid patients. In those patients requiring formal myotomy, endoscopic approaches appear to be as effective but less morbid when compared with classical open surgery.

There is good evidence for the safety and efficacy of the different therapeutic options for isolated cricopharyngeal dysfunction. However, further studies are required to compare the efficacy of the various treatment modalities.

This study aimed to report our current practice of transoral laser microsurgery for early glottic cancer against the standards outlined by the ENT UK Head and Neck Group and assess the oncological outcome.

A retrospective review of case notes of patients diagnosed with early glottic cancer (tumour stages Tis, T1 and T2) who underwent transoral laser microsurgery as a primary curative treatment. The minimum follow-up period was two years.

Thirty-one patients had transoral laser microsurgery for early glottic cancer during the study period. Eighty-four per cent of cases were discussed by a multidisciplinary team prior to transoral laser microsurgery. Complete circumferential excision was achieved in 77 per cent of cases. Sixty-five per cent of specimens were subjected to histological analysis; they complied with standard pathology reporting for margins. Within 12 months of transoral laser microsurgery, there were 10 residual cases and 2 recurrences. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis gave disease-free survival rates of 96.8 per cent at 18 months and 93.5 per cent at 24 months. The laryngectomy-free survival rate was 96.8 per cent at two years.

The findings of this audit are encouraging and have highlighted areas for further discussions, recommendations, training and education.

Granulation tissue after transoral laser microsurgery can make it difficult to distinguish between normal healing and tumour recurrence.

We carried out a retrospective analysis of 316 consecutive glottic carcinomas (Tis–T3). Presence of granulation tissue at one and six months was correlated with demographic and clinical data, tumour and surgical characteristics, and tumour relapse.

Granulation tissue appeared in 53.8 per cent of patients at month 1, resolving spontaneously in 41.8 per cent. Revision surgery was performed in 60.1 per cent and was effective in 41.1 per cent. At month 6, 14.9 per cent of patients presented with granulation tissue. In 74.5 per cent the tissue was surgically removed and was positive for malignancy in 62.9 per cent. Tumour relapse presented in 29.4 per cent with granulation tissue at month 1 and in 61.7 per cent at month 6 (p = 0.000). Granulation tissue at month 1 correlated with thyroid cartilage exposure and continued smoking. At month 6, granulation tissue correlated with thyroid cartilage exposure, the affected surgical margins and diabetes.

Granulation tissue after transoral laser microsurgery is frequent. When it persists at six months, revision surgery is formally recommended.

To report and discuss the outcome of a treatment algorithm for patients with tumour stage 1 glottic squamous cell carcinoma.

A retrospective outcome analysis study was performed using data from a tertiary referral centre.

Sixty-nine patients were treated with radiotherapy and 26 with surgery, in accordance with the treatment algorithm. Five-year overall survival rates were the same for both treatment groups (92 per cent). Five-year disease-specific survival rates were 100 per cent for surgery, 98 per cent for radiotherapy and 99 per cent overall. The overall 5-year laryngeal preservation rate was 89.1 per cent, being 95.7 per cent for surgery patients and 86.7 per cent for radiotherapy patients (p = 0.502). There was no significant association between laryngeal preservation rates and age (p = 0.779), anterior commissure involvement (p = 0.081), tumour stage (1a or 1b) (p = 0.266) or treatment modality (surgery or radiotherapy; p = 0.220). There was no significant difference in local recurrence rates between the two treatment groups (19.3 per cent for radiotherapy vs 10.0 per cent for surgery; p = 0.220). The overall 5-year regional recurrence rate was 1.2 per cent.

Tumour stage 1 glottic carcinoma can be managed with different treatment modalities, following an individualised treatment algorithm, with results comparable to published outcomes.

We present a rare case of an unusual presentation of a pyriform sinus haemangioma in a normally healthy, Caucasian woman, including our management and a review of the literature.

A 44-year-old woman presented complaining of bringing up fresh blood whilst brushing her teeth, dysphonia, food sticking in her throat, and epigastric pain for the preceding 12 months, accompanied by a 17.5 kg weight loss. She underwent pre-operative computed tomography and subsequent complete excision of a pyriform sinus haemangioma using CO2 laser.

Haemangiomas are congenital vascular malformations and can affect any part of the body. They are not prevalent in adults and are rarely found in the pyriform sinus. Their common presenting symptoms and management have been previously documented; however, the presented case is unusual in both its presentation and management.

This study aimed to evaluate voice and quality of life after transoral laser resection of early glottic carcinoma.

We studied 19 patients undergoing transoral laser resection of tumour stage (T) one or T2 glottic carcinoma. Laryngeal function was evaluated by video-stroboscopy, vocal function by the Voice Symptom Scale, the grade-roughness-breathiness-asthenia-strain scale and objective phoniatric assessment, and quality of life by the University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire.

Patients’ glottic carcinoma tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) staging was T1 N0 M0 in 14 patients and T2 N0 M0 in five. Overall voice grade, roughness and breathiness were mild to moderate in 84 per cent; asthenia and voice strain were more uniformly distributed, with 15 per cent of patients having normal voice quality. Eight patients developed a glottic web post-operatively; anterior commissure web was significantly associated with worse voice grade (p = 0.05). Seven patients (47 per cent) had a ‘mucosal wave’ on the operated vocal fold; this was significantly associated with less strain on phonation (p = 0.05). Voice Symptom Scale score was low overall (15 patients (78.9 per cent) scored less than 30). The fundamental frequency and frequency irregularity were normal in nine patients (47.3 per cent); the closed quotient was normal in six (31.5 per cent). The averaged quality of life score was ≥90 in 14 patients (73.7 per cent); 18 (94.7 per cent) felt their health-related quality of life was either the same or better post-operatively; and overall quality of life was positive in all.

Transoral laser resection of T1 and T2 glottic carcinoma enables adequate tumour tissue excision with preservation of acceptable vocal function. Most patients’ post-operative quality of life is very good. Anterior commissure web formation is associated with poorer vocal function.

To review early oncological outcomes following transoral CO2 laser resection of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Retrospective review of hospital electronic database.

Large district general hospital in England, UK.

Patients' three-year disease-specific survival and disease-free survival were evaluated, including post-operative complications, voice quality and swallowing status.

Seventy-seven patients (16 women and 61 men) were identified. Transoral laser excision of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx was undergone by 65 patients, and the same procedure in the hypopharynx by 12. Patients with laryngeal cancer had statistically better disease-specific survival than those with hypopharyngeal cancer (p = 0.021), although the cumulative disease-free survival probability was 0.71 for both larynx and hypopharynx groups. Patients who underwent laryngectomy following failed laser treatment or as a salvage procedure had poorer outcomes.

The overall results of this study were comparable with those of other, larger studies. At three-year follow up, cumulative disease-specific survival probabilities were 0.92 and 0.71 for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, respectively.