Voice function following CO2 laser microsurgery for precancerous and early-stage glottic carcinoma

Abstract

Conclusions. With the cover layer injured, vocal function of mucosal ablation could be protected and even return to normal after surgery and vocal function of mucosal stripping was slightly affected with extensive mucosal injury. Once the body layer was injured, the compensatory mechanism would play an important role in phonation. Objectives. To investigate voice function following CO2 laser microsurgery for precancerous and early-stage glottic carcinoma. Patients and methods. Vocal function was examined by acoustic analysis, aerodynamic analysis and videostroboscopic examination. Results. For mucosal ablation, vocal quality recovered 1 month after surgery. For mucosal stripping, although vocal quality was steady 3 months after surgery, slight hoarseness persisted in this group. The contour of the treated fold recovered postoperatively. There were no complications in recovery. For cordectomies, vocal quality became steady 6 months after the surgery. The supraglottal hyperfunction with supraglottal structure squeezing played an important role in phonation. The affected vocal fold mucosal wave was absent instead of a regular ventricular fold wave or mucosal wave of the vocal process during phonation. In comparison with the type III–IV cordectomy, the results of extended cordectomies (type Va and Vc) were worse; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Granulomas and anterior commissure webs were present. All granulomas resolved spontaneously 3 months postoperatively.