Voice outcomes after concurrent chemoradiotherapy for advanced nonlaryngeal head and neck cancer: a prospective study.
BACKGROUND
The voice impact of treatment for nonlaryngeal head and neck primary sites remains unknown.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective study of a consecutive sample of patients undergoing chemoradiation for nonlaryngeal head and neck cancer. The Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) was completed, and voice recordings were made at 3 time-points.


RESULTS
Of 42 recruited patients, 34 completed the measures before and in the early posttreatment phase (mean 16.5 weeks), while 21 patients were assessed at the final time-point (mean, 20.4 months). VoiSS scores showed statistically significant progressive deterioration in the total score (p = .02) and impairment subscale (p < .0001) through to the final assessment. Acoustic measures and perceptual ratings deteriorated significantly (p < .001) in the early posttreatment weeks and improved at the final assessment, but not to the baseline. Interrater agreement was excellent for expert measures.


CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first prospective study to show that chemoradiation therapy for nonlaryngeal head and neck cancer has a significant effect on the patients' self-reported voice quality, even in the long term.
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. vinidh.paleri@ncl.ac.uk
Vinidh
V
Paleri
Paul
P
Carding
Sanjoy
S
Chatterjee
Charles
C
Kelly
Janet Ann
JA
Wilson
Andrew
A
Welch
Michael
M
Drinnan
D000368:Aged; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D014831:Voice