Transoral laser microsurgery ± adjuvant therapy versus chemoradiotherapy for stage III and IVA oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: Preliminary comparison of early swallowing outcomes

Observational data suggests transoral surgery may offer benefit in swallowing over chemoradiotherapy.In this preliminary, non-randomized study, patients with stage III and IVA oropharyngeal carcinoma treated with transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) were assessed pretreatment and 3 months after treatment using the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI), the Performance Status Scale (PSS), and a timed Water Swallow Test (WST). Comparisons were...