Transoral carbon dioxide laser surgery for primary treatment of oropharyngeal malignancy

The procedure

The procedure is usually done with the patient under a general anaesthetic. The surgeon usually uses a small camera on a thin, flexible tube to guide a laser through the open mouth. The laser is used to cut out the tumour and a small amount of the healthy flesh around it. Large tumours can be removed in several pieces. Sometimes the lymph nodes are also removed (if they are swollen or it is suspected that the cancer has spread to them). Sometimes the patient also has radiotherapy or chemotherapy.