Changes in Voice Production During Radiotherapy for Laryngeal Cancer

This report describes certain changes in voice production that occurred in a patient undergoing radiation therapy for laryngeal carcinoma. The increasing use of radiation as well as conservation surgery for treatment of early-stage laryngeal cancer results in overall improved survival. These techniques also require new directions in vocal rehabilitation. In this study a patient with laryngeal cancer undergoing radiation therapy was studied before, during, and after treatment. Airflow rate, phonational range, most comfortable frequency of phonation, and intraoral air pressure were measured. Eight weeks after the termination of radiation therapy, hoarseness persisted, but airflow rate was continuing to drop, the phonational range was increasing, and the most comfortable frequency of phonation appeared stable. Intraoral air pressure for voiced and voiceless consonants was not systematically affected by the changing status of the vocal cords.