title: Telephonic voice intelligibility after laryngeal cancer treatment: is therapeutic approach significant?
abstract: The aim was to investigate telephonic voice intelligibility in patients treated for laryngeal cancer using different approaches. In total, 90 patients treated for laryngeal cancer using different approaches and 12 healthy volunteers were recruited. Each patient and each healthy control read a list of words and sentences during a telephone call. Six auditors listened to each telephonic recording and transcribed the words and sentences they understood. Mean intelligibility rates for each treatment were assessed and compared. Regarding words, the poorest intelligibility was noted for type II open partial horizontal laryngectomies, followed by total laryngectomies. The best intelligibility was found for transoral laser microsurgery, followed by radiotherapy alone. For sentences, the poorest intelligibility was noted for type II open partial horizontal laryngectomies, followed by chemoradiotherapy. The best intelligibility was found for radiotherapy alone and transoral laser microsurgery. More aggressive surgery as well as chemoradiotherapy correlated with significantly poorer outcomes. Transoral laser microsurgery or radiotherapy alone ensured the best telephonic voice intelligibility. Intermediate-advanced T stages at diagnosis also showed significantly poorer intelligibility outcomes, suggesting that T stage represents an independent negative prognostic factor for voice intelligibility after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Service, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy. erikacro73@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crosetti
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology Service, Department of Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fantini
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology Service, Department of Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arrigoni
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology Service, Department of Surgery, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salonia
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology Service, Department of Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Metrological Research, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atzori
authors.affiliation: L'altrastatistica srl, Consultancy and Training, Biostatistics office, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Panetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L. Sacco", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology Service, Vittorio Veneto Hospital, Vittorio Veneto, Treviso, Italy.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertolin
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology Service, Vittorio Veneto Hospital, Vittorio Veneto, Treviso, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzotto
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology Service, Department of Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Succo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D007830:Larynx / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013068:Speech Production Measurement / Q000379:methods; D013689:Telephone
keywords: Chemoradiotherapy; Laryngeal cancer; Laryngectomy; Radiotherapy; Telephone communication; Transoral laser microsurgery