It assists in removing early-stage cancers (stage 1-stage 2) affecting limited areas of the vocal cords or larynx. Cancer can begin anywhere in the larynx. Laryngeal cancer, a common type of head and neck cancer, has a higher chance of cure if detected early enough, simply by removing the cancerous area completely. A primary goal of treatment is to help preserve the larynx's voice and swallowing functions, especially when the cancer is in its early stages. At this point, surgery or radiotherapy alone may be sufficient to treat the cancer. However, larger tumors may require various treatments, including surgery to remove the entire larynx, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. The larynx contains the vocal cords, which vibrate and enable speech. It has three parts:

* **Glottis:** The middle section containing the vocal cords.
* **Supraglottis:** The area above the vocal cords.
* **Subglottis:** The area below the vocal cords connecting the larynx to the trachea.

Cordectomy is a treatment option for tumors in the glottis, often because it provides adequate surgical visualization. However, it can also be applied to early-stage supraglottic tumors that are suitable and limited in size. Laser cordectomy may be limited to patients with early tumors classified as stage T1 or stage T2. T1 refers to a tumor located only on the vocal cords that does not affect vocal cord movement. A tumor on the right or left vocal cord is termed T1a. A tumor on both vocal cords is termed T1b. T2 additionally involves spread to an area adjacent to the vocal cord, but laser cordectomy may be applicable under certain conditions.