Abstract
SummaryAimTo evaluate voice outcomes in patients with early glottic carcinoma treated by CO2 laser cordectomy.Method15 patients with glottic Tis and T1 squamous cell carcinoma treated with CO2 laser were analyzed. The assessment consisted of perceptual voice analysis, objective voice evaluation and video-laryngo-stroboscopic exam. In addition, patients rated their voices and completed the Voice related Quality of Life (VR-QOL) questionnaire. The results were compared with those obtained in a matched control group.ResultsMost of the patients presented some degree of hoarseness on perceptual voice analysis, mainly rough and breathy voices. Their acoustic evaluation compared with the control group showed a small increase in fundamental frequency, but with no statistically significant difference, and the values of jitter, shimmer and noise to harmonic ratio were worse and statistically significant. As regards to video-laryngo-stroboscopic findings, better results were achieved in the less extensive resection group. Patients have had minimal repercussion in their life quality in respect to voice. Conclusions: In spite of voice alterations in patients submitted to cordectomy by CO2 laser, functional results are acceptable, with minimal repercussion in their quality of life. Avaliação da voz em pacientes submetidos à cordectomia com laser de CO2.
Highlights
Cancer of the larynx is the second most frequent tumor of the upper airway and upper digestive tract, second only to oral cavity tumors
In this study the average voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL) was 88.17. These results show that most patients undergoing CO2 laser cordectomy had some degree of dysphonia, the effect on activities of daily life was minor
Voice perceptive-auditory analysis indicates that most patients undergoing CO2 laser cordectomy presented some degree of dysphonia, usually hoarseness and soprosity
Summary
Cancer of the larynx is the second most frequent tumor of the upper airway and upper digestive tract, second only to oral cavity tumors. Brazil occupies the second place in the world in the incidence of cancer of the larynx. This disease affects mostly males in the sixth and seventh decades of life[1]. Initial glottic carcinomas, classified as in situ carcinomas (Tis) and T1, may be treated by open surgery (cervical access), radiotherapy and laryngeal microsurgery with conventional instruments or by CO2 laser. These approaches provide satisfactory local control and similar survival rates[3,4,5]
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