[Quality of life and voice intelligibility in laryngeal cancer patients--relevance of the "satisfaction paradox"].
BACKGROUND
Aim of this study was to compare postoperative quality of life and voice intelligibility of laryngeal cancer patients.


METHODS
Two studies assessed the quality of life (by EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H&N35) and the voice intelligibility (by PLTT and FPAL) of 218 laryngectomized and 151 partially resected patients. The data of 86 patients was analysed on the basis of matched pairs (matching criteria: sex and tumour stage).


RESULTS
The smelling and tasting of the laryngectomized patients were more affected. Other domains of quality of life did not differ significantly between the groups. The subjective assessment of voice intelligibility led to worse results among the patients with partial laryngectomy, although the objective test proved the contrary.


CONCLUSIONS
Subjective and objective assessment of quality of life can differ, which led to paradox results in this study, especially for voice intelligibility. This might be due to the fact that partially resected patients have higher expectations of their operation.
Bindewald
J
J
Abt. Sozialmedizin der Universität Leipzig. julianbindewald@web.de
Herrmann
E
E
Dietz
A
A
Wulke
C
C
Meister
E  F
E
Wollbrück
D
D
Singer
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000370:Ageusia / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013065:Speech Intelligibility