Voice Analysis after the Vertical Partial Laryngectomy

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is generally believed that reconstruction of the glottic region after vertical partial laryngectomy (VPL) can improve glottic and supraglottic function. But reports on secondary healing without glottic reconstruction after VPL are lacking. This study attempts to obtain an objective phonatory data after VPL without glottic reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1993 to 2001, 13 patients, who had been treated with VPL without glottic reconstruction, and 44 patients who underwent VPL were included in this study. Patients who had been followed up postoperatively less than 12 months were excluded from this study. Seven lesions were classified as T1 glottic cancer and six as T2 glottic cancer ; classic VPL (11 cases) and frontolateral VPL (2 cases). For the evaluation of voice, acoustic (fundamental frequency (Fo), jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio (NHR)), aerodynamic (maximal phonation time (MPT), mean flow rate (MFR)) analysis and videostroboscopy were done. RESULTS: There were significant differences in Fo, jitter, shimmer, NHR, MPT and MFR between VPL group and the normal control group. In videostroboscopy, the following tendencies were observed in many cases: incopmplete glottic closure, decreased and irregular mucosal wave and amplitude, supraglottic voicing, abnormal arytenoid movement and anterior commissure blunting. CONCLUSION: We had objective phonatory data after VPL without glottic reconstruction, which showed that voice quality after VPL without glottic reconstruction were somewhat unsatisfactory. Further studies on other surgical techniques of VPL would help to elucidate better ways of improving voice quality in these patients.