Longitudinal analysis of voice quality in patients with early glottic cancer after transoral laser microsurgery.

BACKGROUND We conducted longitudinal voice evaluations in patients with early glottic cancer who underwent transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) to determine the time to stability. METHODS Twenty-five patients underwent TLM, including 13 limited cordectomies (type I and type II) and 12 extended cordectomies (type III to type IV). Multidimensional voice evaluations were performed before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS Voice parameters of asthenicity, strain, mean airflow rate (MFR), voice handicap index (VHI)-functional, VHI-physical, and VHI-total scores improved in all patients. Most patients had improved 6 months after TLM. Patients with extended cordectomy showed higher breathiness, MFR, VHI-functional, and VHI-total scores. Healing was complete in all cases by 6 months and in a majority of cases (76%) by 3 months. CONCLUSIONS Voice quality achieved stability 6 months after TLM. Comparing treatment outcomes and surgical intervention are not recommended within 6 months of surgery.