Voice outcome in T1a midcord glottic carcinoma: laser surgery vs radiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare voice quality after radiotherapy or endoscopic laser surgery in patients with similar T1a midcord glottic carcinomas according to a validated multidimensional protocol.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
University cancer referral center.


METHODS
Two cohorts of consecutive patients willing to participate after treatment for primary T1a midcord glottic carcinoma with laser surgery (18 of 23 eligible) or radiotherapy (16 of 18 eligible).


METHODS
Posttreatment voice quality was evaluated according to a multidimensional voice protocol based on validated European Laryngological Society recommendations, including perceptual, acoustic, aerodynamic, and stroboscopic analyses, together with patient self-assessment using the Voice Handicap Index.


RESULTS
Approximately half of the patients had mild to moderate voice dysfunction in the perceptual analysis (53% [8 of 15] in the radiotherapy group and 61% [11 of 18] in the laser surgery group) and on the Voice Handicap Index (44% [7 of 16] in the radiotherapy group and 56% [10 of 18] in the laser surgery group). The voice profile in the laser surgery group was mainly breathy; in the radiotherapy group, it was equally breathy and rough, with a trend for more jitter in the acoustic analysis. There was no statistical difference in the severity of voice dysfunction between the groups in any of the variables.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic laser surgery offers overall voice quality equivalent to that of radiotherapy for patients with T1a midcord glottic carcinoma, although specific voice profiles may ultimately be different for the 2 modalities. We believe that endoscopic laser surgery is the preferred treatment in these patients because it provides oncologic control similar to that of radiotherapy and the additional benefits of lower costs, shorter treatment time, and the possibility of successive procedures.
Sjögren
Elisabeth V
EV
Department of ENT-Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Floor J6-166, Albinusdreef 2, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands. evsjogren@lumc.nl
van Rossum
Maya A
MA
Langeveld
Ton P M
TP
Voerman
Marika S
MS
van de Kamp
Vivienne A H
VA
Friebel
Mark O W
MO
Wolterbeek
Ron
R
Baatenburg de Jong
Robert J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005931:Glottis / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014833:Voice Quality