Introduction Narrow-band imaging is an endoscopic diagnostic tool that, focusing on superficial vascular changes, is useful to detect suspicious laryngeal lesions, enabling their complete excision with safe and tailored resection margins. Objectives To analyze the applications and benefits of narrow-band imaging in detecting premalignant and malignant laryngeal lesions through a comparison with white-light endoscopy. Data Synthesis A literature search was performed in the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases using strict keywords. Then, two authors independently analyzed the articles, read the titles and abstracts, and read completely only the relevant studies according to certain eligibility criteria. In total, 14 articles have been included in the present review; the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of pre- and/or intraoperative narrow-band imaging were analyzed. The analysis showed that narrow-band imaging is better than white-light endoscopy in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy regarding the ability to identify cancer and/or precancerous laryngeal lesions. Moreover, the intraoperative performance of narrow-band imaging resulted more effective than the in-office performance. Conclusion Narrow-band imaging is an effective diagnostic tool to detect premalignant and malignant laryngeal lesions and to define proper resection margins. Moreover, narrow-band imaging is useful in cases of leukoplakia that may cover a possible malignant lesion and that cannot be easily assessed with white-light endoscopy. Finally, a shared, simple and practical classification of laryngeal lesions, such as that of the European Laryngological Society, is required to identify a shared lesion management strategy. Key Points

Introduction Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) is the treatment of choice for Tis-T2 squamous cell glottic carcinomas due to its advantages compared with open surgery and radiotherapy. However, the CO2 laser beam causes changes and damage on the specimens, making the histological assessment of resection margins, the gold standard for confirming radical tumor resection, sometimes difficult. Objective To assess the different ways to manage patients depending on the status of the histopathological margin according to recent studies to detect the most commonly shared therapeutic strategy. Data Synthesis We analyzed the literature available on the PubMed and Web of Science databases, including only articles published since 2005, using specific keywords to retrieve articles whose titles and abstracts were read and analyzed independently by two authors to detect relevant studies. Therefore, we focused on disease-free survival, overall survival, local control, laryngeal preservation, and disease-specific survival. Thus, 17 studies were included in the present review; they were grouped according to the status of the histological margin, and we analyzed the different management policies described in them. This analysis showed that there is not a shared strategy, though in most studies the authors performed a second-look surgery in the cases of positive margins and a close follow-up in cases of negative ones. The main disagreement is regarding the management of close or non-valuable resection margins, since some some authors performed a second-look surgery, and others, a close follow-up. Conclusions Definitely, the most shared policy is the second-look surgery in case of positive surgical margins, and a close follow-up in case of close or non-valuable resection margins. Key Points

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