Vocal function following laser and conventional surgery of small malignant vocal fold tumours

In the described study, 26 patients after conventional cordectomy, and 27 patients after laser cordectomy were examined six months or more after the operation. Videolaryngostroboscopy revealed that patients after laser cordectomy more often phonate on purely glottic level (81 per cent) in comparison to patients after conventional cordectomy (19 per cent). Webs were more frequent and more extended after conventional cordectomy compared to endoscopic laser surgery. The maximal phonation time showed a very wide range with a mean value of 9 to 10 sec; there was no statistical difference between the groups of patients. Using Yanagihara's classification of sonograms, a better voice quality was measured after laser cordectomy than conventional cordectomy. The patients' estimation of their voice quality did not correlate with objective parameters.