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.