Functional vocal results after CO2 laser endoscopic surgery for glottic tumours

Abstract

AbstractIntroduction:Vocal results after endoscopic cordectomy have not yet been well defined. The aim of this study was to assess the vocal function of patients who had undergone CO2 laser cordectomy.Design:Retrospective, observational and control group study, conducted in a tertiary care medical department.Methods:One hundred and thirty-five male patients (age range 36–83 years) underwent different types of endoscopic cordectomy. Forty age-matched, euphonic male subjects were selected as controls. Patients were classified according to the main site of the phonatory neo-glottis. Outcome measures were maximum phonation time, vocal intensity and harmonic/noise ratio. Mann–Whitney and rank Spearman tests were used for statistical analysis.Results:Findings indicated statistically significant differences for all parameters, comparing patients and controls (p<0.001), and a direct positive relation between type of functional compensation and outcome measures in the study patients (p<0.001).Conclusions:The results indicate that functional compensation and outcome measures were related, and that no functional compensation enabled the study patients to achieve a voice quality comparable with that of controls.