Transoral carbon dioxide laser surgery for primary treatment of oropharyngeal malignancy

1 Recommendations

1.1 Current evidence on the efficacy and safety of transoral carbon dioxide laser surgery for the primary treatment of oropharyngeal malignancy is adequate to support the use of this procedure with normal arrangements for clinical governance, consent and audit.

1.2 This procedure should only be carried out by clinicians who have been trained in the use of transoral carbon dioxide laser surgery in the oropharynx.

1.3 Patient selection for this procedure should be done by a multidisciplinary team in accordance with the NICE cancer service guidance on improving outcomes in head and neck cancers (CSGNH 2004).

1.4 Clinicians should enter details of all patients undergoing transoral carbon dioxide laser surgery for the primary treatment of oropharyngeal malignancy onto the Data for Head and Neck Oncology (DAHNO) database.