Evolution of Voice Quality in Type 1-2 Transoral CO 2 Laser Cordectomy: A Prospective Comparative Study

Objectives/hypothesis To compare the 12-month evolution of voice quality outcomes in patients who benefited from types 1-2 transoral CO2 laser cordectomy (TLC) for an early-stage vocal fold squamous cell carcinoma (VFSCC). Study design Prospective uncontrolled study. Methods Sixty patients with cT1 VFSCC were consecutively recruited from a single medical center. Thirty patients benefited from type 1 TLC, while type 2 TCL was performed in 30 patients. The following voice quality outcomes were evaluated at baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12-month post-TLC: voice handicap index (VHI), GRBAS, speech rate, maximum phonation time (MPT), and acoustic parameters. Voice quality evolution was compared between type 1 and type 2 TLC. Results Fifty-seven patients completed the evaluations. Type 1 TLC patients reported significant improvements of VHI, grade of dysphonia, and breathiness at 3-, 6-, and 12-month post-TLC. Speech rate and jitter values improved 6- and 12-month post-TLC. A few voice quality outcomes reported 3- or 6-month post-TLC improvements in type 2 TLC group, while VHI, grade of dysphonia improved at 6- and 12-month post-TLC. MPT significantly decreased at 6- and 12-month post-TLC, while there were no acoustic measurement changes in type 2 TLC. Conclusions The effect of TLC on voice quality may depend on the type of TLC. Type 1 TLC was associated with faster voice quality improvements compared with type 2 TLC. VHI and dysphonia grade were identified as the most relevant tool of voice changes irrespective to the TLC type. Level of evidence 3 Laryngoscope, 2021.