Ackerman's tumor of the larynx - Results of oncologic CO2 laser surgery.

Background: Ackerman's tumor, named after the author of the first descripti on in 1948, is a low grade malignant tumor. The aim of this paper is to cla rify the role of the carbon dioxide laser therapy in the management of this neoplastic disorder of the larynx. Patients: Twenty-four men and one woman suffering from glottic tumors fulfilled the diagnostic criteria laid down by Ackerman from 1986 to 1998. All patients were treated with transoral las er surgery with a follow-up ranged from 14 to 142 months. Results: Seventee n patients were diagnosed at T1, seven at T2, and one at T3. In T1 lesions, a laser cordectomy or an extended laser cordectomy was performed. In T2 an d T3 tumors, partial laryngectomy with a CO2 laser was performed. No patien t died tumor-related. In this series, initial failure rate of laser resecti on was 8%: one patient was salvaged with endolaryngeal laser surgery, anoth er patient (initially T3 tumor) with total laryngectomy. No patient require d radiation therapy. No cases of anaplastic transformation were recognized. Conclusions: Based on this material, recommended treatment for T1 and T2 A ckerman-Tumors is oncologic CO2 laser resection in combination with a metic ulous follow up for every recognition of local recurrences.