title: Quality of voice evaluation in patients treated by supracricoid laryngectomy and modified supracricoid laryngectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare quality of voice in patients treated by supracricoid laryngectomy and patients treated by modified supracricoid laryngectomy using the sternohyoid muscle for neoglottis reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series. Setting. Teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed between 2004 and 2008 on 28 consecutive patients affected by T1b-T2 laryngeal carcinoma. Eleven patients were treated by supracricoid laryngectomy, and 17 patients were treated by modified supracricoid laryngectomy. For each patient, postoperative parameters such as decannulation time, nasogastric feeding tube, and length of hospitalization were noted. Vocal function, Voice Handicap Index scores, and perceptual voice analysis scores on intelligibility, noise, fluency, and voice scale were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The postoperative course of the patients treated by modified supracricoid laryngectomy was similar to patients treated by supracricoid laryngectomy. No delay in the length of hospitalization was detected in patients undergoing surgery with the new technique. A significant difference was detected in the nasogastric tube removal time and decannulation time. The data from intelligibility, noise, fluency, and voice scale analyses revealed a better quality of voice in patients treated by modified supracricoid partial laryngectomy with a significant difference in intelligibility, fluency, and voicing. The Voice Handicap Index mean value of physical, functional, and emotional subscales confirmed patients' perceptions of a minor voice handicap in patients treated by modified supracricoid laryngectomy, with a significant difference on the physical subscale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modified supracricoid laryngectomy seems to be a good way to improve quality of voice and quality of life in patients with early laryngeal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. eualle@unicz.it
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Boria
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rotundo
authors.forename: Maria Rita
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barrera
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuccunato
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garozzo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D049489:Stroboscopy; D014833:Voice Quality