@article{HackenbergMeyerHaefneretal.2022,
  author    = {Hackenberg, Stephan and Meyer, Till Jasper and H{\"a}fner, Johannes and Scheich, Matthias and St{\"o}th, Manuel and Al-Tinawi, Fadi and Neun, Tilmann and Mlynski, Robert and Hagen, Rudolf and Scherzad, Agmal},
  title     = {Surgical management of tympanojugular paragangliomas using the flexible CO\(_2\) laser},
  series = {European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology},
  volume    = {279},
  journal   = {European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology},
  number    = {12},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00405-022-07416-5},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-324164},
  pages     = {5623-5630},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Purpose Surgery is a standard therapy for tympanojugular paragangliomas (TJP). Maintaining the quality of life (QoL) requires functional preservation. The flexible CO\(_2\) laser allows contact-free tumor removal. This retrospective study compares the postoperative functional outcomes of TJP surgery with and without the flexible CO\(_2\) laser. Methods Between 2005 and 2019, 51 patients with TJP were surgically treated at a tertiary hospital. Until 2012, 17 patients received conventional surgery. Thereafter, the flexible laser was used in 34 patients. Tumor extend, pre- and postoperative cranial nerve function, and complications were compared between the groups. Results The cohort consisted of 33 class A and B tumors and 18 class C and D tumors. Preoperative embolization was performed in 17 cases. Class C/D TJP were usually removed via an infratemporal fossa type A approach. Gross total tumor removal was achieved in 14/18 class C/D tumors. 3/51 patients suffered from long-term partial or complete facial palsy. No differences in post-therapeutic cranial nerve function or complications were noted between the conventional and laser group. One recurrence was observed after complete tumor resection. Conclusion The flexible CO\(_2\) laser was shown to be a safe and effective alternative to conventional bipolar cauterization, which is appreciated by the surgeon in these highly vascularized tumors. Both techniques allowed a high tumor control rate and good long-term results also from a functional point of view.},
  language  = {en}
}