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

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.

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).

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.

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.