Awake Blue Light vs. KTP Laser Treatment for Vocal Fold Lesions: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Laser Surgery
• Voice Disorders

Background:

• Benign vocal fold lesions can impair voice quality and require effective treatment.
• Office-based laser treatments offer a less invasive approach compared to traditional surgery.
• The 532-nm potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser is an established treatment modality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical efficacy of a 445-nm blue light (BL) laser with the 532-nm KTP laser for treating benign vocal fold lesions in an office setting.
• To evaluate voice improvement, pain levels, and laryngeal stroboscopy outcomes between the two laser types.

Main Methods:

• A parallel-group, open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted with adult patients diagnosed with benign vocal fold lesions.
• Participants underwent either BL or KTP laser treatment in an office setting.
• Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) scores and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) were primary and secondary outcome measures, respectively, assessed at various postoperative time points.

Main Results:

• Both BL and KTP lasers resulted in significant improvements in VHI-10 scores and pain reduction, with no statistically significant differences between the groups.
• Postoperative vocal fold closure and mucosal wave parameters at 90 days were comparable between the BL and KTP laser treatment groups.
• Ninety-eight patients were enrolled, with 49 patients in each treatment arm.

Conclusions:

• The 445-nm blue light (BL) laser is a viable alternative to the 532-nm KTP laser for office-based treatment of benign vocal fold lesions.
• BL laser treatment yields comparable voice outcomes, pain management, and laryngeal stroboscopy results to KTP laser treatment.