Abstract
Objectives
1) To present the objective and subjective analysis of voice quality following treatment of an early epidermoid glottic carcinoma. 2) Results from the objective evaluation of the voice, along with the self-evaluation of voice quality quantified using the Voice Handicap Index of a group of patients treated with endoscopic laser surgery, are compared with patients treated with radiotherapy.
Methods
We performed an objective voice evaluation, as well as a physical, emotional, and functional well-being assessment of 19 patients treated with laser surgery and 18 patients treated with radiotherapy. The data obtained was gathered in the statistical database SPSS 12.0. The statistical analysis used was the “Student t test” in order to compare averages and the Chi-squared test for comparing proportions. The statistical differences were considered significant when p was lower than 0.05.
Results
Voice quality is affected both by surgery and radiotherapy. Voice parameters only show differences in the maximum phonation time between both treatments (p < 0,005). Patients Self-Perception Analysis (Voice Handicap Index) Upon completing the comparison between the two groups, the statistical difference is significant, in favor of the radiotherapy patients in functional and emotional ratings, as well as the global scores (p < 0,005). No significant differences were found in the physical scales.
Conclusions
There is a reduced impact in patient's perception of voice quality after radiotherapy, despite no significant differences in vocal quality between radiotherapy and laser cordectomy.