[Evolution of voice assessment and quality of life after endoscopic laser cordectomy].

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic laser cordectomy is a minimally invasive surgical technique for Tis, T1 and selected T2 glottic carcinoma. The purpose of the study was to evaluate prospectively pre-operatively and 3 months after surgery i) acoustic and perceptual parameters, ii) quality of life through a self evaluation (VHI) test.

METHODS: A prospective longitudinal evaluation of 13 male patients, shared-out onto 3 surgical procedures (cordectomy type I, grouped type II and III, and type V). Patients were recorded before and at 1 and 3 months after surgery. The parameters recorded were; acoustic parameters (F0, Jitter, Shimmer), Maximum Phonation Time (MPT), perceptual evaluation using the GRBAS scale and the self evaluation scale with the Voice Handicap Index (VHI).

RESULTS: No statistics could be done because of the limited number of patients in each group. Perceptual and self evaluation data showed a favorable progression between 1 and 3 months for patients in group Type I, II and III cordectomy. Evolution of acoustic parameters is more difficult to analyze. The voice of the Cordectomy type V group remains whispery at 3 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION: The quality of voice is a very important criterion for the patients. During the first 3 months after laser cordectomy, the perceptual vocal function and the self evaluation improves. But for the acoustic data, 3 months is probably too short to objectively quantify an improvement especially after type V cordectomy.