Laser for Tonge Cancer
By: Charlotte Ames
Updated: March 27, 2008
Treatment for tongue cancer may involve surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. Surgery aims to remove as much of the tumor as possible, and it's hoped, eliminate the cancer. However, it often leads to permanent changes in structure (like removal of a portion of the tongue or jaw) and function (leading to problems with speaking, chewing and swallowing). Radiation and chemotherapy aim to control the spread of the cancer. These treatments can lead to increased risk for infections, pain and inflammation of the oral tissues, changes in saliva flow and an increased risk for cavities.
Some doctors use a CO2 laser instead of a scalpel to remove tongue cancer. However, these lasers are only used for visible tumors located on the front two-thirds of the tongue. Tumors at the base of the tongue are more difficult to see clearly. So surgeons often need to cut through the neck to get at the tumor site. In some cases, doctors may need to break the jaw to access the tumor.
Now, there's another option. It's called the OmniGuide BeamPath. Guy Petruzzelli, M.D, Ph.D., an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist at Rush University Medical Center, calls the procedure transoral laser microsurgery. The OmniGuide BeamPath combines a flexible fiber CO2 laser with a microscope to enable surgeons to visualize and access areas at the back of the mouth. The laser can then be used to cut and remove tumors or vaporize the tissue in minimally invasive surgery. The new device is highly accurate and safe to surrounding tissues. That allows doctors to preserve as much oral function as possible for the patient.
Use of the OmniGuide BeamPath laser is still limited. Petruzzelli says transoral laser microsurgery is best for patients with smaller tumors on the surface of the tongue. Patients with tumors that have invaded deeply into the tongue may not be good candidates for the procedure. The technique also requires a lot of room in the mouth for surgical tools and maneuvering. So it may be more of an option for those who are able to open their mouths very wide or who have lost their teeth.
For information about the OmniGuide® BeamPath system, visit the company's website at http://www.omni-guide.com.
Some doctors use a CO2 laser instead of a scalpel to remove tongue cancer. However, these lasers are only used for visible tumors located on the front two-thirds of the tongue. Tumors at the base of the tongue are more difficult to see clearly. So surgeons often need to cut through the neck to get at the tumor site. In some cases, doctors may need to break the jaw to access the tumor.
Now, there's another option. It's called the OmniGuide BeamPath. Guy Petruzzelli, M.D, Ph.D., an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist at Rush University Medical Center, calls the procedure transoral laser microsurgery. The OmniGuide BeamPath combines a flexible fiber CO2 laser with a microscope to enable surgeons to visualize and access areas at the back of the mouth. The laser can then be used to cut and remove tumors or vaporize the tissue in minimally invasive surgery. The new device is highly accurate and safe to surrounding tissues. That allows doctors to preserve as much oral function as possible for the patient.
Use of the OmniGuide BeamPath laser is still limited. Petruzzelli says transoral laser microsurgery is best for patients with smaller tumors on the surface of the tongue. Patients with tumors that have invaded deeply into the tongue may not be good candidates for the procedure. The technique also requires a lot of room in the mouth for surgical tools and maneuvering. So it may be more of an option for those who are able to open their mouths very wide or who have lost their teeth.
For information about the OmniGuide® BeamPath system, visit the company's website at http://www.omni-guide.com.
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.