[Assessment of quality of life in patients with laryngeal cancer after surgical treatment].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate quality of life of patients undergoing surgical treatment for larynx cancer and to compare quality of life between patients with total laryngectomy and partial laryngectomy.


METHODS
Thirty-two questions were asked to patients who underwent total laryngectomy (22 subjects) or partial laryngectomy (24 subjects). These questions were based on the European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer questionnaires Quality of Life--C30 (EORTC-QoL-C30) and adapted to our nation. Patients with total laryngectomy and partial laryngectomy were compared according to the answers.


RESULTS
We found significant statistical differences between total and partial laryngectomy patients in 12 questions. When functional disorders were evaluated, the most significant was one associated with communication. However, pain, smell disorders and increased secretion were associated with morbidity that resulted from the type of surgery. It was observed that patients with total laryngectomy were particularly affected psychologically and economically.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients subjected to total laryngectomy experience serious physical and psycho-social disadvantages that arise from the treatment. In order to establish these negative effects and to minimize them, tools of assessment of quality of life should be developed. This assessment should be appropriate for our nation, providing information and psychological support for individuals and their families.
Taş
Abdullah
A
Department of Otolaryngology, Medicine Faculty of Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey. abdultas@yahoo.com
Yağiz
Recep
R
Karasalihoğlu
Ahmet R
AR
Koten
Muhsin
M
Adali
Mustafa Kemal
MK
Uzun
Cem
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires