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<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Open partial laryngectomies for supraglottic and hypopharyngeal cancers have a very high incidence of aspiration in the post-operative period with resultant delay in restoration of swallowing. The present study examines the functional efficacy and oncological safety of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for select subset of T₁/T₂/T₃ squamous cancers of the supraglottis and hypopharynx with freely mobile vocal cords that are easily accessible on suspension microlaryngoscopy.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This is a retrospective study of squamous cancers of the supraglottis and hypopharynx treated with transoral CO₂ laser resection.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Oncologically, resections performed under the magnification of the operating microscope are safe and yield high local control rates ranging from 79% to 85% for supraglottic cancer and from 63% to 89% for hypopharyngeal cancer.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in selected cases of supraglottis and hypopharyngeal squamous cancers is safe procedure with several advantages over the open partial laryngectomy procedures as also over radiotherapy.</p>