Cost-minimisation and cost-effectiveness analysis comparing transoral CO₂ laser cordectomy, laryngofissure cordectomy and radiotherapy for the treatment of T1–2, N0, M0 glottic carcinoma

The financial costs of laryngeal cancer treatment are a notable burden on healthcare budgets. In this study, we assess whether CO₂ laser surgery is cheaper than radiotherapy or laryngofissure and cordectomy in the treatment of T1–2, N0, M0 glottic squamous cell carcinoma. 56 patients with a mean age of 65.88 years (SD = 10.04), 53 men and 3 women, with T1–2, N0, M0 glottic squamous cell carcinoma were retrospectively analysed. We conducted a comparative analysis of costs associated with three treatments: carbon dioxide laser cordectomy (n = 21), radiotherapy (n = 20), and laryngofissure cordectomy (n = 15). Complications of the radiotherapy and surgical treatments, need for tracheotomy and its permanence, length of hospital stay, occupation and ability to work and economic costs of treatments were recorded. Cost-minimisation and cost-effectiveness analysis were obtained. The cost of transoral laser cordectomy (2,289.79 €) is statistically significantly lower than that of radiotherapy (4,804.72 €) or laryngofissure cordectomy (13,229.75 €) (p < 0.001). Transoral carbon dioxide laser surgery is the best option in terms of cost-effectiveness for the treatment of T1–2, N0, M0 glottic cancer.