Are We Using a Multidimensional Voice Evaluation in Patients With Early-Stage Laryngeal Cancer? A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Oncology

Background:

• Voice evaluation typically uses a multidimensional framework.
• This framework is often not applied in studies of early-stage laryngeal cancer (ESLC) patients post-radiotherapy (RT).
• Lack of adherence hinders evidence-based practice (EBP) for voice disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the representation of voice evaluation domains in the ESLC post-RT literature.
• To identify research gaps impacting clinical care for voice disorders in ESLC patients.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review.
• Searched PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL for studies on RT and voice disorders.
• Followed PRISMA statement standards.

Main Results:

• Only 3% of 61 reviewed articles utilized multidimensional voice evaluation.
• Significant variation exists in the use of voice domains (acoustic, self-assessment, perceptual), outcome measures, and reliability reporting.
• Inconsistent data reporting impedes meaningful synthesis of findings.

Conclusions:

• Methodological inconsistency in voice evaluation is prevalent in ESLC post-RT research.
• This inconsistency limits research comparability and clinical application.
• Improved adherence to multidimensional voice evaluation guidelines is crucial for research and clinical practice.