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.