Functional vocal results after CO2 laser endoscopic surgery for glottic tumours

Introduction: Vocal results after endoscopic cordectomy have not yet been well defined. The aim of this study was to assess the vocal function of patients who had undergone CO(2) laser cordectomy. Design: Retrospective, observational and control group study, conducted in a tertiary care medical department. Methods: One hundred and thirty-five male patients (age range 36-83 years) underwent different types of endoscopic cordectomy. Forty age-matched, euphonic male subjects were selected as controls. Patients were classified according to the main site of the phonatory neo-glottis. Outcome measures were maximum phonation time, vocal intensity and harmonic/noise ratio. Mann-Whitney and rank Spearman tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Findings indicated statistically significant differences for all parameters, comparing patients and controls (p<0.001), and a direct positive relation between type of functional compensation and outcome measures in the study patients (P<0.001.). Conclusions: The results indicate that functional compensation and outcome measures were related, and that no functional compensation enabled the study patients to achieve a voice quality comparable with that of: controls.