Laser surgery preserves voice for throat cancer patients
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In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Doctor Trần Phan Chung Thủy pioneered laser surgery to treat throat cancer, offering patients a less invasive alternative to traditional methods.
For years, patients with early-stage throat cancer in Vietnam underwent open surgery requiring extensive incisions, potentially leading to difficulties with speech, swallowing, and breathing.
Doctor Thủy, director of the Otolaryngology Center at Tâm Anh General Hospital, began researching and implementing a minimally invasive technique using a 10,600 nm laser to remove tumors through the mouth. This new approach allows surgeons to precisely cut away cancerous tissue while preserving healthy tissue and avoiding external incisions. The laser seals blood vessels as it cuts, reducing bleeding and the risk of cancer cells spreading.
Doctor Thủy and her team prepared for this shift by training at the Mayo Clinic in the United States and investing in modern laser equipment. Since its introduction, the technique has been successfully used on hundreds of patients, with a 95.6% safe removal rate and a 4.2% recurrence rate. Patients typically stay in the hospital for only four days, compared to seven to ten days with open surgery, and rarely require a temporary tracheostomy or feeding tube.
Doctor Thủy’s work earned recognition including a position on the World Federation of Otolaryngology Executive Board representing Southeast Asia and Oceania for 2026-2030.
