Article

Voice Quality After Laser Surgery or Radiotherapy for T1a Glottic Carcinoma

  1. Etsuyo Tamura MD1,*,
  2. Satoshi Kitahara MD1,
  3. Masami Ogura PhD1,
  4. Naoyuki Kohno MD2

Article first published online: 2 JAN 2009

DOI: 10.1097/00005537-200305000-00025

Issue

The Laryngoscope

The Laryngoscope

Volume 113, Issue 5, pages 910–914, May 2003

Additional Information

How to Cite

Tamura, E., Kitahara, S., Ogura, M. and Kohno, N. (2003), Voice Quality After Laser Surgery or Radiotherapy for T1a Glottic Carcinoma. The Laryngoscope, 113: 910–914. doi: 10.1097/00005537-200305000-00025

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Otorhinolaryngology, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan

  2. 2

    Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Kyorin University, Tokyo, Japan.

*Etsuyo Tamura, MD, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki Tokorozawa City, Saitama, 359-8513, Japan.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 2 JAN 2009
  2. Article first published online: 2 JAN 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 21 JAN 2003

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Keywords:

  • Glottic carcinoma;
  • laser;
  • treatment;
  • phonetic function

Abstract

Objective To compare the effect on phonation of radiotherapy and endoscopic laser surgery for stage T1a glottic squamous cell carcinoma.

Study Design Retrospective.

Methods Patients treated for stage T1a glottic carcinoma from August 1994 to March 2000 and who had been followed for at least 1 year were candidates. Eight patients who underwent radiotherapy and 22 who underwent laser surgery were enrolled. Indirect laryngoscopy and stroboscopic examination were performed, and voice quality was analyzed using standard parameters.

Results Maximum phonation time, average airflow rate, sound pressure level, and average fundamental frequency during unconditional phonation were similar after laser surgery and radiotherapy. However, compared with normal men who were 50 years of age or older, the average fundamental frequency was higher after laser surgery.

Conclusions Contrary to some reports, the voice quality is minimally affected by laser surgery for T1a glottic carcinoma, and outcome is similar to radiotherapy. The average fundamental frequency is higher than normal after laser surgery, but the effect on the quality of life was trivial.

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