Voice Outcome and Quality of Life after Laser Cordectomy in Glottic Cancer

Kwak, Min Kyu; Ji, Yong Bae; Yun, Bo Ram; Song, Chang Myeon; Kim, Kyung Rae; Tae, Kyung

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Laser cordectomy is considered one of the best techniques for the treatment of early stage glottic cancer. But voice outcome and quality of life (QOL) after laser cordectomy is controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the voice outcome after laser cordectomy in glottic cancer and its association to QOL.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
43 patients who underwent laser cordectomy from January 2002 to December 2008 were enrolled in this study. We evaluated the objective and subjective voice outcomes using acoustic analysis, aerodynamic study and voice handicap index (VHI). We also assessed QOL using EORTC QLQ-C30/H&N35 questionnaire. We compared the voice outcome according to the type of laser cordectomy and analyzed correlation between voice outcome and QOL.
RESULTS
Harmonic to noise ratio, maximum phonation time and VHI of patients treated with Types I, II cordectomy was significantly improved after operation. Functional VHI after Types I, II cordectomy was significantly lower than Types III-VI cordectomy. The postoperative QOL score of glottic cancer patients were not statistically different between Type I, II and Type III-VI cordectomy. QOL score had a positive correlation with postoperative VHI.
CONCLUSION
Objective and subjective voice outcomes after laser cordectomy showed favorable results, especially in patients who were treated with Types I, II laser cordectomy. QOL scores were correlated with VHI scores, but not with acoustic parameters.