A comparison of radiation-induced and presbylaryngeal dysphonia.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to assess voice after radiotherapy compared with patients with presbylaryngeal dysphonia.

STUDY DESIGN AND

SETTING

Prospective assessment of 20 patients aged 60+ years who remained free of disease longer than 1 year after radiotherapy for T1 squamous cell carcinoma and retrospective review of 46 patients aged 60+ with presbylaryngeal dysphonia, conducted at a tertiary care, academic hospital. Assessment data included videostroboscopy, spectrography, voice range profile, and Voice Handicap Index.

RESULTS

Eighty percent of the radiotherapy patients reported a voice disorder. Acoustic data and functional measures reflected similar limitations and abnormalities for both groups. A high incidence of glottal gap in all patients may have been associated with increased mucosal stiffness in the radiotherapy group and vocal fold atrophy in the presbylaryngeal group.

CONCLUSION

Patient perception and functional outcome of voice were similar for both groups, despite differences in etiology of abnormal vocal fold vibratory behavior.

SIGNIFICANCE: Radiotherapy in older individuals may yield dysphonia that is no greater than that caused by normal aging.