The committee noted that the published reports on transoral carbon dioxide laser surgery for the primary treatment of oropharyngeal malignancy included patients with tumours at other locations and at various stages. Almost all were case series and patients had received a variety of adjuvant therapies.
Nevertheless, the committee considered that the available evidence was sufficient to support a conclusion that the outcomes for the transoral laser surgery procedure were similar to those for the other treatments in the reports. Its decision was influenced by the advice of specialists that transoral carbon dioxide laser surgery for primary treatment of oropharyngeal malignancy is an established treatment in UK practice.
The committee noted that patient feedback was unanimously positive about this procedure.