title: Measuring voice outcomes following treatment for laryngeal cancer.
abstract: Laryngeal cancer is the most commonly diagnosed head and neck malignancy. Treatment of laryngeal tumors is dependent upon disease stage at diagnosis, and may involve surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of modalities. Regardless of tumor stage or treatment provided, quality of life (QOL) can be drastically affected. Voice-related outcomes are almost universally affected and can have a negative impact on overall QOL. Thus, treatment outcomes must extend beyond issues of oncological cure alone. Measures of voice and voice-related QOL following treatment for laryngeal cancer are important markers of treatment success. This article will broadly outline laryngeal cancer and its treatment, vocal rehabilitation, and provide insight into the various methods of assessing post-treatment voice and the influence of voice change on quality of life in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Western Ontario, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Victoria Hospital, Room B3-427, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, Ontario, N6A 4G5, Canada.
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Angel
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life; D014833:Voice Quality