title: Effects of tumor staging and treatment modality on functional outcome and quality of life after treatment for laryngeal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An earlier stage of primary disease at diagnosis is associated with better survival from laryngeal cancer. It remains unproven whether earlier stage is also associated with improved end-organ function and quality of life after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire packs were posted to 250 patients with laryngeal cancer treated between January 2006 and December 2008 within the West of Scotland. Packs contained the Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS), MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI), and University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW-QOL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred forty-seven eligible patients provided data for analysis (59% of original cohort). Patients with an earlier stage of primary disease reported significantly better VoiSS, MDADI, and UW-QOL scores (p < .05). No differences were found between scores of patients with T1 laryngeal disease treated with endoscopic laser resection (ELR) and radiotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An earlier stage at diagnosis is associated with significantly better end-organ function and quality of life after treatment for laryngeal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, United Kingdom; West of Scotland Managed Clinical Network for Head and Neck Cancer, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stuart M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Justin C L
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sabey
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: MacKenzie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014833:Voice Quality
keywords: laryngeal cancer; quality of life; swallowing; treatment modality; voice