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Twenty-five years experience with laser surgery for head and neck tumors

Report of an international symposium, Göttingen, Germany, 2005

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Abstract

During the last 25 years, the treatment of tumors arising in the upper aerodigestive tract has changed fundamentally. Whereas surgery in the 1970s aimed at radical block resection and defect repair from outside, the establishment of transoral laser microsurgery marked a new era of organ- and function-preserving therapy. An international symposium, held on 10 and 11 June 2005 in Göttingen, was dedicated to a critical review and assessment of the current role of laser surgery for the treatment of head and neck cancer. Experts from five continents presented their experiences and scientific results and had an intensive exchange with participants from different countries. The topics of the symposium were focused on the surgical principles of laser resection, the oncological and functional results in comparison with traditional therapy, the difficulties and limits of laser surgery in distinct anatomical regions and on the role of radiotherapy. This report summarizes the most important results and statements and gives an overview of actual developments. The names and addresses of the participants mentioned in this report are appended below.

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Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank the KARL STORZ Company, Tuttlingen, Germany for the financial support of this symposium. They are also indebted to Bruce W. Pearson, M.D. (Jacksonville) and David J. Howard, M.D. (London) for their support in editing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Wolfgang Steiner.

Addendum

Addendum

Names and addresses of participants mentioned in this report:

  • Petra Ambrosch, M.D.

  • Klinik für HNO-Keilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein

  • Arnold-Heller-Straße 14, 24105 Kiel / Germany

  • ambrosch@hno.uni-kiel.

  • Manuel Bernal-Sprekelsen, M.D.

  • Servicio de ORL, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona

  • Villaroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona / Spain

  • MBERNAL@clinic.ub.es

  • William B. Coman, M.D.

  • Department of Surgery, University of Queensland Alexandra

  • 201 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane Q 4000 / Australia

  • drcoman@powerup.com.au

  • Jenö Czigner, M.D.

  • Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic, Szentgyörgyi Albert Med. University

  • Dugonits ter 13, 6720 Szeged / Hungary

  • czigner@orl.szote.u-szeged.hu

  • Maik Ellies, M.D.

  • Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenkrankheiten, Georg-August-Universität

  • Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen / Germany

  • mellies@med.uni-goettingen.de

  • Johan J. Fagan, M.D.

  • Division of Otolaryngology, University of Cape Town

  • Medical School, Observatory, Cape Town 7925 / South Africa

  • jfagan@uctgsh1.uct.ac.za

  • Oliver Fierek, M.D.

  • Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenkrankheiten, Georg-August-Universität

  • Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen

  • fierek.aguirre@t-online.de

  • R. Theo Gregor, M.D.

  • Surgical Services, Waikato Hospital

  • Privat Bag 3200, Hamilton / New Zealand

  • theogreg@xtra.co.nz

  • C. Andrew van Hasselt, M.D.

  • Department of Otolaryngology, U of T, The Chinese University of Hongkong

  • Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories / Hongkong

  • andrewvan@cuhk.edu.hk

  • Bruce H. Haughey, M.D.

  • Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis

  • 517 South Euclid Ave. 8115, St. Louis, MO 63110 / USA

  • turnerd@ent.wustl.edu

  • Clemens F. Hess, M.D.

  • Klinik für Strahlentherapie, Georg-August-Universität

  • Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen / Germany

  • cfhess@med.uni-goettingen.de

  • David J. Howard, M.D.

  • Royal National Throat, Nose & Ear Hospital, 330 Gray’s Inn Road

  • London WC1X 8DA / Great Britain

  • trisha.lunham@royalfree.nhs.uk

  • Heinrich Iro, M.D.

  • Klinik für HNO-Heilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen

  • Waldstr. 1, 91054 Erlangen

  • heinrich.iro@hno.med.uni-erlangen.de

  • John T. Kennedy, M.D.

  • S. Francis Building, Suite 90 / Level 9

  • 166 Gipps Street, East Melbourne 3002 / Australia

  • jtkennedy@eastmelb-ent.com.au

  • Rainald Knecht, M.D.

  • Klinik für HNO-Heilkunde, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität

  • Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt / Germany

  • knecht@em.uni-frankfurt.de

  • Alexios Martin, M.D.

  • Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Georg-August-Universität

  • Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen / Germany

  • amartin3@gwdg.de

  • Arno Olthoff, M.D.

  • Abteilung für Phoniatrie/Pädaudiologie, Georg-August-Universität

  • Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen / Germany

  • olthoff@med.uni-goettingen.de

  • Carsten E. Palme, M.D.

  • Westmead Hospital, Cnr Hawkesbury and Darcy Roads,

  • Westmead, Wentworthville, NSW 2145 / Australia

  • annecarsten@telstra.com

  • Deepak M. Parikh, M.D.

  • Laser & OncoSurgeon, 101 Sukh-Sagar, N.S. Patkar Marg

  • Chowpatty (Girgaon), Bombay 400007 / India

  • dmparikh@bom5.vsnl.net.in

  • Bruce W. Pearson, M.D.

  • Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville

  • 3500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224 / USA

  • brucepearson@comcast.net

  • Jorge Pinho, M.D.

  • Cirurgiade Cabeca e Pescoso, Doencas da Voz

  • Rua Tenente Antonio Joao, 56, Recife – PE, CEP 52011 130 / Brazil

  • jpinho@uol.com.br

  • Wolfgang Steiner, M.D.

  • Klinik für HNO-Heilkunde, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

  • Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen

  • wolfgang.steiner@medizin.uni-goettingen.de

  • Jochen A. Werner, M.D.

  • Klinik für HNO-Heilkunde, Philipps-Universität Marburg

  • Deutschhausstr. 3, 35037 Marburg

  • wernerj@med.uni-marburg.de

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Jäckel, M.C., Martin, A. & Steiner, W. Twenty-five years experience with laser surgery for head and neck tumors . Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 264, 577–585 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-007-0280-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-007-0280-6

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