Revisiting the Concept of Non- and Minimally Invasive Interventions in Early Glottic Cancer – Part II: Single Therapy Should be Favored over the Combination of Transoral Laser Microsurgery and Radiotherapy, Regarding the Postinterventional Voice Quality

Introduction Early glottic cancer (EGC) is associated with a high cure rate. Hence, patients and physicians also focus on the impact of the proposed treatment on the speaking function of the preserved larynx. Objectives The present study assessed the impact of single-modality treatment (transoral laser microsurgery [TLM], or radiotherapy) or combination therapy for EGC on postinterventional voicing and explored factors which might explain the related perceptions. Methods A total of 108 patients filled in the voice handicap index 10 questionnaire, 1 and 2 years postinterventionally. Non-parametric tests were used for the respective statistical analyses. Results Sixty-four patients were treated with TLM, 15 with radiotherapy, and 29 with both modalities. Transoral microsurgery and radiotherapy were associated with postinterventional dysphonia, which attenuated between the first and second postintervention year ( p = 0.000). No association between sociodemographic parameters and the attenuation of postinterventional dysphonia was identified for either treatment modality. Transoral microsurgery and radiotherapy resulted in comparable postinterventional voicing, in the first ( p = 0.940) and second ( p = 0.196) postintervention years. The addition of TLM to radiotherapy resulted in worse voice quality in the second, compared with the first postintervention year ( p = 0.000), demonstrating a detrimental effect on speech intelligibility in noise ( p = 0.000). Conclusion Single therapy should be favored over the combination of TLM and radiotherapy for EGC in terms of retaining better postinterventional voice quality. Postinterventional dysphonia should be taken into account, during preinterventional counseling, as it may exert leverage on the quality of patients' lives. Patients and physicians should acknowledge the optimal time of voice function return, which seems to be extending up to two years posttreatment.