Voice quality after treatment of T1a glottic cancer.
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS
To compare voice handicap and quality of life after radiotherapy (RT) versus transoral laser surgery (LS) for T1a glottic carcinoma.


STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective study (1996-2011) of patients treated with RT or LS for T1a glottic squamous cell carcinoma with curative intent.


METHODS
Disease-free patients were assessed using Voice Handicap Index (VHI 30) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Head and Neck Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ-HN35) questionnaires.


RESULTS
Of 147 patients, 95 (65%) completed the questionnaires: fifty-one patients an average of 8 years after RT and 44 patients an average of 4 years after LS (no difference in age or sex ratio). The average total VHI 30 was 13.1 for RT and 29.2 for LS (P < .0001), with average emotional, physical and functional subscores significantly different. The average total EORTC QLQ-HN35 was 37.7 for RT versus 40.7 for LS (P = .7), with a difference only in the speaking subscore (P = .04).


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term subjective voice-related quality of life was worse after LS, with no difference in other domains. These results should be interpreted in light of the biases inherent in retrospective studies.


LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
4.
['Laoufi|Samia|S|', 'Mirghani|Haïtham|H|', 'Janot|François|F|', 'Hartl|Dana M|DM|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell D015984:Causality D015331:Cohort Studies D015897:Comorbidity D005260:Female D005500:Follow-Up Studies D005931:Glottis D006801:Humans D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms D053685:Laser Therapy D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D011788:Quality of Life D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal D012189:Retrospective Studies D018570:Risk Assessment D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D016896:Treatment Outcome D014832:Voice Disorders D014833:Voice Quality
Glottic cancer voice handicap quality of life radiotherapy laser squamous cell carcinoma