Vocal assessment in patients submited to CO(2) laser cordectomy

AIM: To evaluate voice outcomes in patients with early glottic carcinoma treated by CO(2) laser cordectomy. METHOD: 15 patients with glottic Tis and T1 squamous cell carcinoma treated with CO(2) laser were analyzed. The assessment consisted of perceptual voice analysis, objective voice evaluation and video-laryngo-stroboscopic exam. In addition, patients rated their voices and completed the Voice related Quality of Life (VR-QOL) questionnaire. The results were compared with those obtained in a matched control group. RESULTS: Most of the patients presented some degree of hoarseness on perceptual voice analysis, mainly rough and breathy voices. Their acoustic evaluation compared with the control group showed a small increase in fundamental frequency, but with no statistically significant difference, and the values of jitter, shimmer and noise to harmonic ratio were worse and statistically significant. As regards to video-laryngo-stroboscopic findings, better results were achieved in the less extensive resection group. Patients have had minimal repercussion in their life quality in respect to voice. Conclusions: In spite of voice alterations in patients submitted to cordectomy by CO(2) laser, functional results are acceptable, with minimal repercussion in their quality of life. Avaliação da voz em pacientes submetidos à cordectomia com laser de CO(2).