title: Comparison of endoscopic laser resection versus radiation therapy for the treatment of early glottic carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiation therapy (RT) and transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) are established treatments for early glottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Similar oncologic outcomes have been reported with both modalities, leading physicians to consider other factors when making clinical recommendations. One such factor is voice-related quality of life. This investigation sought to characterize differences in self-reported voice outcomes in patients undergoing RT or TLM for the treatment of Tis or T1a glottic SCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all individuals who received either RT or TLM for the treatment of Tis or T1a glottic SCC between 2004 and 2009 at the London Regional Cancer Program. The primary outcome measure was voice-related quality of life, as assessed by the Voice-Related Quality of Life questionnaire (V-RQOL). Secondary outcomes included local control, overall survival, and laryngectomy-free survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-seven patients were eligible for this study; 34 received RT and 23 received TLM. Forty (70.2%) of the 57 patients completed the V-RQOL. No statistically significant difference in total V-RQOL score was observed between the RT and TLM cohorts (p  =  .228). There was, however, a trend toward higher scores (ie, less voice disability) in the physical function domain of the V-RQOL for the RT group (90.0%) compared to the TLM group (80.2%) (p  =  .05). No significant differences were observed in recurrence or overall survival between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both oncologic outcomes and self-rated voice-related quality of life are similar in patients treated with RT and TLM for early glottic carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario.
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Osborn
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Varagur
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Venkatesan
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: Jason H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceron
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Whelan
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005931:Glottis; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D014833:Voice Quality