Effects of voice rehabilitation after radiation therapy for laryngeal cancer: a randomized controlled study. 2014

Lisa Tuomi, and Paulin Andréll, and Caterina Finizia
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: lisa.tuomi@vgregion.se.

BACKGROUND Patients treated with radiation therapy for laryngeal cancer often experience voice problems. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to assess the efficacy of voice rehabilitation for laryngeal cancer patients after having undergone radiation therapy and to investigate whether differences between different tumor localizations with regard to rehabilitation outcomes exist. METHODS Sixty-nine male patients irradiated for laryngeal cancer participated. Voice recordings and self-assessments of communicative dysfunction were performed 1 and 6 months after radiation therapy. Thirty-three patients were randomized to structured voice rehabilitation with a speech-language pathologist and 36 to a control group. Furthermore, comparisons with 23 healthy control individuals were made. Acoustic analyses were performed for all patients, including the healthy control individuals. The Swedish version of the Self Evaluation of Communication Experiences after Laryngeal Cancer and self-ratings of voice function were used to assess vocal and communicative function. RESULTS The patients who received vocal rehabilitation experienced improved self-rated vocal function after rehabilitation. Patients with supraglottic tumors who received voice rehabilitation had statistically significant improvements in voice quality and self-rated vocal function, whereas the control group did not. CONCLUSIONS Voice rehabilitation for male patients with laryngeal cancer is efficacious regarding patient-reported outcome measurements. The patients experienced better voice function after rehabilitation. Patients with supraglottic tumors also showed an improvement in terms of acoustic voice outcomes. Rehabilitation with a speech-language pathologist is recommended for laryngeal cancer patients after radiation therapy, particularly for patients with supraglottic tumors.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007822 Laryngeal Neoplasms Cancers or tumors of the LARYNX or any of its parts: the GLOTTIS; EPIGLOTTIS; LARYNGEAL CARTILAGES; LARYNGEAL MUSCLES; and VOCAL CORDS. Cancer of Larynx,Laryngeal Cancer,Larynx Neoplasms,Cancer of the Larynx,Larynx Cancer,Neoplasms, Laryngeal,Cancer, Laryngeal,Cancer, Larynx,Cancers, Laryngeal,Cancers, Larynx,Laryngeal Cancers,Laryngeal Neoplasm,Larynx Cancers,Larynx Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Laryngeal,Neoplasm, Larynx,Neoplasms, Larynx
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D002985 Clinical Protocols Precise and detailed plans for the study of a medical or biomedical problem and/or plans for a regimen of therapy. Protocols, Clinical,Research Protocols, Clinical,Treatment Protocols,Clinical Protocol,Clinical Research Protocol,Clinical Research Protocols,Protocol, Clinical,Protocol, Clinical Research,Protocols, Clinical Research,Protocols, Treatment,Research Protocol, Clinical,Treatment Protocol
D006685 Hoarseness An unnaturally deep or rough quality of voice. Hoarseness of Voice,Neurogenic Hoarseness,Voice Hoarseness,Hoarseness, Neurogenic,Hoarseness, Voice,Hoarsenesses,Neurogenic Hoarsenesses
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D014832 Voice Disorders Pathological processes that affect voice production, usually involving VOCAL CORDS and the LARYNGEAL MUCOSA. Voice disorders can be caused by organic (anatomical), or functional (emotional or psychological) factors leading to DYSPHONIA; APHONIA; and defects in VOICE QUALITY, loudness, and pitch. Neurologic Voice Disorder,Voice Disorder, Neurologic,Voice Disturbance,Voice Fatigue,Disturbance, Voice,Disturbances, Voice,Fatigue, Voice,Fatigues, Voice,Neurologic Voice Disorders,Voice Disorder,Voice Disorders, Neurologic,Voice Disturbances,Voice Fatigues
D014833 Voice Quality That component of SPEECH which gives the primary distinction to a given speaker's VOICE when pitch and loudness are excluded. It involves both phonatory and resonatory characteristics. Some of the descriptions of voice quality are harshness, breathiness and nasality. Qualities, Voice,Quality, Voice,Voice Qualities
D057566 Self Report Method for obtaining information through verbal responses, written or oral, from subjects. Report, Self,Reports, Self,Self Reports

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