Quantifying the shrinkage of laryngeal laser excisions: a case control study. Issue 12 (2nd December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Halliday, E; George, A
• Is Part Of: Journal of laryngology & otology. Volume 136:Issue 12(2022)
• Page Start: 1265
• Page End: 1270
• Publication Date: 2022-12-02
• Subjects: Case-Control Studies -- Laryngeal Neoplasms -- Lasers -- Margins of Excision -- Microsurgery; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022215122000652
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2151

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Heat from transoral laser microsurgery can cause tissue shrinkage, impacting the surgical margin. This study aimed to compare shrinkage between cold steel and carbon dioxide laser resections of laryngeal lesions. Methods: A European Laryngological Society type II resection was performed on 10 mm 'lesions' marked on both the true and false folds of fresh-frozen human larynxes; specifically, laser resection was performed on the right side and cold steel resection on the left side. Results: Twenty-eight larynxes were included. Tissue shrinkage was significantly higher in laser resection (35–45 per cent) compared to cold steel resection (8–14 per cent) ( p < 0.0001). In most cases, there was no significant difference in shrinkage between true and false fold sites. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that specimen shrinkage is significantly higher in laser resections. This shrinkage will affect the size of the surgical margin; surgeons and pathologists should be aware of this when considering positive and close margins.