Voice, swallowing and quality of life in patients after transoral laser surgery for supraglottic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

Transoral laser surgery is a conservative surgical method used to treat supraglottic carcinomas, but little is known about functional and quality of life (QOL) outcomes relative to extent of resection.

METHODS

We prospectively examined functional and oncological outcomes of 21 patients with T1-T3 supraglottic carcinomas underwent partial (group A, n = 8) or radical (group B, n = 13) laser supraglottic resection and bilateral neck dissection. Subjective and objective evaluation of voice, swallowing and QOL before and after endoscopic supraglottic resection were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

No major complications were encountered, but local recurrence developed in two patients (9%). Vocal function was not generally affected by surgery. Postsurgical swallowing and social eating scores were higher in group B than in group A (P < 0.05). Aspiration occurred in most patients soon after surgery, but recovered within 3-6 months, with recovery being faster in group A. Three-year locoregional control, disease-free survival and overall survival rates were 81%, 71% and 79%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Swallowing was affected by the extent of laser resection for supraglottic carcinomas, but eventually recovered in most patients, indicating favourable functional and oncological outcomes.