Health-Related Quality-of-Life Outcomes after Transoral Robotic Surgery for T₁ and T₂ Supraglottic Laryngeal Carcinoma Compared to the Transcervical Open Supraglottic Approach

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> This prospective controlled study evaluated and compared health-related quality of life (HRQOL), after transoral robotic supraglottic laryngectomy (TORSGL) versus transcervical open supraglottic laryngectomy (TCOSGL) in patients with T₁ and T₂ supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma (SLC). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The TORSGL group comprised 14 patients, and the TCOSGL group comprised 13 patients. All 27 patients completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer 30-item core quality-of-life questionnaire version 3.0 (EORTC QLQ-C30), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer head-and-neck cancer-specific module (EORTC QLQ-H&amp;N35), before treatment and during the early and the late postoperative periods. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The present prospective study demonstrated the near-term postoperative HRQOL of patients with T₁ or T₂ SLC treated with TORSGL (Group A) or TCOSGL (Group B). On comparison of EORTC QLQ-C30 data for the two groups in the early postoperative period, all functional subscale scores and global health status scores were statistically significantly lower (all <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05) in Group A than in Group B and in the late postoperative period, other than the cognitive function score (<i>p</i> = 0.450), all functional subscale scores and global health status scores were statistically significantly lower (all <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05) in Group A than in Group B. On comparison of the EORTC QLQ-H&amp;N35 data for the two groups in the early postoperative period, except for the teeth problems scale score (<i>p</i> = 0.061), all symptom scale scores were statistically significantly lower in Group A than in Group B (all <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05) and in the late postoperative period, the speech, social eating, social contact, and coughing scale scores were statistically significantly lower (<i>p</i> = 0,0215, <i>p</i> = 0.021, <i>p</i> = 0.01, <i>p</i> = 0.011, respectively) in Group A than in Group B. HRQOL parameters recovered in the late postoperative period in both groups; recovery was better in Group A. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> This study suggested that TORSGL may provide patients with a better HRQOL than those TCOSGL, especially in the early period, but also in the late period.