[Epidermoid carcinoma of piriform sinus after chemo-radiotherapy: acoustic evaluation and voice handicap].

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this prospective investigation was to analyse the voice and the vocal handicap for patients who received concomitant chemoradiation therapy in piriform sinus epidermoid carcinoma (T2, T3).

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

This study included two males populations: Twelve patients aged from 48 to 71 years old were evaluated between 6 and 30 months after the end of chemo-radiotherapy and ten normal subjects, matched in age. The evaluation consisted in firstly a vocal recording (vowel and text) allowing an objective acoustic analysis (temporal and frequential parameters) and a perceptive evaluation of the voice quality by means of GRBAS scale. Secondly an evaluation of the quality of life by means of the voice handicap index (VHI).

RESULTS

The acoustic parameters of instability for the fundamental frequency (FO) and the maximum phonation time of the patients were statistically different (p <0.05) related to the normal subjects. On the other hand, the FO (patients - 130 Hz, subjects = 121 Hz) as well as the speech rate (patients = 142 words/mn, subject = 148 words/mn) were not statistically different. The perspective indexes showed a deterioration of the vocal quality while the handicap expressed was minor.

CONCLUSION

This preliminary study showed the interest of evaluations of the vocal function and the quality of life after chemo-radiotherapy for piriform sinus carcinomas allowing patients to conserve a phonation and eventually the propose a speech therapy.