Radiofrequency coblation for the resection of head and neck malignancies.

Abstract

To review the safety and efficacy of the use of radiofrequency coblation for endoscopic resection of upper aerodigestive tract malignancies and to compare length of procedures using coblation with CO(2) laser surgery. A retrospective case-note review of 40 adult patients with endoscopically treated mucosal squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, 20 having undergone resection using radiofrequency coblation and being case-matched to 20 treated with CO(2) laser. Coblation proved to be an effective method for resection of selected head and neck malignancies. It allows for much faster resection times than the CO(2) laser (P = 0.017) especially in the oropharynx (P = 0.007), but the large probes currently available can cause problems in assessment of adequate resection margins. Although current probe design limits the potential for resection of some tumors, radiofrequency coblation appears to be an attractive evolving technique for the endoscopic resection of selected upper aerodigestive tract malignancies.