Long-term Voice Outcome Following Radiation Versus Laser Microsurgery in Early Glottic Cancer

Patterns of Care for T1 Glottic Squamous Cell Carcinomas from 2004-2020

OBJECTIVE(S)

Describe recent national trends in overall treatment modalities for T1 glottic squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), and identify factors associated with treatment regimens.

METHODS

National Cancer Database from 2004-2020 was queried for all patients with glottic cT1N0M0 SCC. Treatment patterns over time were analyzed using the Cochran-Armitage test for trend. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine the factors associated with treatment regimens.

RESULTS

Of the 22,414 patients identified, most patients received RT only (57%), 21% received surgery only, and 22% received dual-modality treatment ("over-treatment"). Over the time period, there was a decreasing trend in rates of over-treatment for T1 glottic SCC (p < 0.001) and an increasing trend in surgery only (p < 0.001). Treatment in 2016-2018 (OR: 1.168 [1.004 to 1.359]), 2013-2015 (OR: 1.419 [1.221 to 1.648]), 2010-2012 (OR: 1.611 [1.388 to 1.871]), 2007-2009 (OR: 1.682 [1.450 to 1.951]), or 2004-2006 (OR: 1.795 [1.548 to 2.081]) versus 2019-2020 was associated with greater likelihood of over-treatment. T1b tumors were less likely to be over-treated (OR: 0.795 [0.707 to 0.894]) versus T1a tumors, and less likely to receive surgery first (OR: 0.536 [0.485 to 0.592]) versus T1a tumors.

CONCLUSION

Over-treatment for T1 glottic SCC has been declining, with increasing rates of surgery only. Year of treatment was significantly associated with the receipt of dual-modality treatment. Finally, patients with T1b disease were more likely to receive RT as the first and only treatment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3 Laryngoscope, 134:3633-3644, 2024.

Factors Impacting Provider Treatment Decision-Making in Early Glottic Cancer

OBJECTIVES

Transoral laser microsurgery (TLMS) and radiotherapy (XRT) are mainstays of treatment for early glottic carcinoma (EGC). Here, we investigated case-dependent provider treatment preferences and identify factors which impact decision-making in EGC.

METHODS

This cross-sectional survey of laryngologists, head-and-neck surgeons, and radiation oncologists presented five diagrammatic cases of progressively advanced EGC (T1/2, N0). Respondents indicated preference for TLMS or XRT and ranked factors which influenced their recommendation for each case. Analysis utilized descriptive statistics, Fischer's exact tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests for nonparametric data.

RESULTS

A total of 141 complete responses (69.5% laryngologists) were received. Most respondents practiced in academic settings (93.5%) and within multidisciplinary teams (94.0%). Anterior commissure involvement was the most important a priori tumor factor for case-independent treatment recommendation (Likert Scale: 4.22/5), followed by Laterality (Likert Scale: 4.02/5). Across all specialties, TLMS was recommended for unilateral T1a lesions. Laryngologists continued recommending TLMS in T2 lesions (41.0%) more than head-and-neck surgeons (5.0%) and radiation oncologists (0.0%). Across all cases, survival and voice outcomes were the most important clinical factors impacting treatment decisions. Radiation oncologists weighed voice more heavily than laryngologists in more complex presentations of EGC (rank: 1.6 vs. 2.7, Kruskall-Wallis: p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In more complex clinical presentations of EGC, preference for TLMS compared to XRT differed across specialists, despite similar rankings of factors driving these treatment recommendations. This may be driven by differing experiences and viewpoints on case-dependent voice outcomes following TLMS versus XRT, suggesting a need for increased understanding of how tumor location and depth impact voice outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

5 Laryngoscope, 134:3686-3694, 2024.

Voice quality after surgery or radiotherapy for glottic T1 squamous cell carcinoma: Results of the VOQUAL study

PURPOSE

Many series have compared voice quality after radiotherapy or surgery for cT1 glottic carcinoma. Different meta-analyses identify better results for radiotherapy while others do not identify any difference, some finally find a superiority of surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare the voice quality in the long term of patients who underwent transoral surgery versus exclusive irradiation for the treatment of cT1 glottic carcinoma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The VOQUAL study was a pilot comparative multicenter cross-sectional study. The primary endpoint was the Voice Handicap Index comparison between two groups (radiotherapy or surgery). The voice assessment also consisted in the heteroevaluation of voice quality by the Grade, Roughness, Breathness, Asthenia, and Strain rating scale reported by Hirano.

RESULTS

The study included 41 adult patients with cT1 carcinoma of the vocal cord treated by cordectomy or exclusive radiation in two oncologic centers. The median Voice Handicap Index value was 20 [8; 32.5] in the surgery group and 10 [4; 18.5] in the radiotherapy group. There was no statistically significant difference between the median values and the various components F, P and E of the questionnaire (P=0.1585). The median value of the numeric dysphonia Grade, Roughness, Breathness, Asthenia, and Strain scale was 2 [0; 5] in the surgery group and 2 [0.25; 3.75] in the radiotherapy group. There was no statistically significant difference between these values (P=0.78).

CONCLUSION

Our study did not show any significant difference on the primary endpoints of Voice Handicap Index and Grade, Roughness, Breathness, Asthenia, and Strain scores.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

The VOQUAL study was registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov platform under the number NCT04447456, in July 2020.

Spectro-acoustic voice parameters in transoral laser microsurgery vs exclusive radiotherapy for early-stage glottic carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

In early glottic squamous cell carcinoma, similar results have been described in terms of disease control between transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and radiation therapy (RT). During the past two decades, several studies compared subjective vocal outcomes of exclusive RT with those of TLM, showing a trend towards improving results for TLM over time. However, the objective differences in terms of spectro-acoustic voice parameters between exclusive RT and TLM have been less frequently investigated. The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate voice quality after TLM and RT treatment for early glottic carcinoma, based on acoustic analysis parameters including jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio, fundamental frequency and maximum phonation time.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A search of the English published literature was conducted on the Pubmed, Scopus and Cochrane databases following PRISMA guidelines.

RESULTS

A total of 441 titles were retrieved from the search. After full-text screening and application of inclusion/exclusion criteria, 12 articles were included. We found no significant differences between TLM and RT treatment in the considered acoustic analysis parameters, except for Shimmer, with more favorable values reported in the RT group.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the spread of the disease and expecting an improvement in long-term survival over time, well-designed and multicentric studies involving larger populations with a long-term follow up are mandatory to better assess objective voice outcomes in terms of spectro-acoustic voice parameters.

Voice After Cordectomy Type I or Type II or Radiation Therapy for Large T1a Glottic Cancer

OBJECTIVE

T_1a glottic cancer can be treated with transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) or radiation therapy (RT). Dysphonia is the major disadvantage of TLM, and preservation of voice appears to be the best advantage of RT compared to TLM. Studies on voice outcomes of both options gave conflicting results, but there is a tendency toward better voice outcome after TLM compared to the past.

STUDY DESIGN

Nonrandomized retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

METHODS

In total, 172 patients with a cancer lesion involving more than two-thirds of 1 membranous vocal fold underwent cordectomy type I (n = 56) (C1 group) or type II (n = 59) (C2 group) or RT (n = 57) (RT group). GRBASI (grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, strain, instability), videolaryngostroboscopy, Voice Handicap Index-30, acoustic analysis including F0, jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio, cepstral peak prominence, and cepstral spectral index of dysphonia using running speech, and aerodynamic analysis were performed before treatment and 6 and 24 months after treatment.

RESULTS

Study groups did not differ significantly on pretreatment voice outcomes (P > .05). The RT group had significantly better voice outcomes at 6 months posttreatment compared to the C1 and C2 groups (P < .05). The C1 group had significantly better voice outcomes at 6 months posttreatment compared to the C2 group (P < .05). The C1 group had significantly better voice outcomes at 24 months posttreatment compared to the RT and C2 groups (P < .05). The RT and C2 groups did not differ significantly at 24 months posttreatment (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

Voice outcomes after C2 are equal to RT. C1 has better voice outcomes than RT. C1 and C2 can be the treatment of choice for large T_1a glottic cancers.

Effect of transoral laser microsurgery vs open partial laryngectomy on the prognosis of patients with early laryngeal carcinoma: propensity score-based analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of surgical procedures (transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and open partial laryngectomy (OPL)) on the prognosis of patients with early laryngeal cancer.

METHODS

A total of 760 patients diagnosed with early laryngeal cancer (T1-2N0M0) and treated with TLM (n = 416) or OPL (n = 344) between 2004 and 2015 were abstracted from the SEER database. Propensity score matching (PSM) and stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (SIPTW) were performed to obtain comparable cohorts. The survival rates were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and compared using the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses with a false discovery rate (FDR) correction were applied to contrast the association between two surgical approaches and overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS).

RESULTS

The 5-year OS for the TLM group was 79.5% versus 77.7% for the OPL group (P = 0.619). Similar results were revealed for the comparison of 5-year DSS rates (91.1% versus 91.5%, P = 0.891). After PSM and SIPTW balance the confounding factors, no significant difference was observed in the OS and DSS of patients treated with TLM compared to patients treated with OPL. The consistent results were still yielded (all P > 0.05), when stratified by gender, age, year of diagnosis, residence, household income, tumor site, T stage, differentiation, and adjuvant therapy.

CONCLUSION

This study provides strong evidence that there is no significant difference in the prognosis of early laryngeal carcinoma between the treatment of TLM and OPL, which may be helpful to guide the clinical decision-making of these patients.

VoiceS: voice quality after transoral CO2 laser surgery versus single vocal cord irradiation for unilateral stage 0 and I glottic larynx cancer-a randomized phase III trial

Background

Surgery and radiotherapy are well-established standards of care for unilateral stage 0 and I early-stage glottic cancer (ESGC). Based on comparative studies and meta-analyses, functional and oncological outcomes after both treatment modalities are similar. Historically, radiotherapy (RT) has been performed by irradiation of the whole larynx. However, only the involved vocal cord is being treated with recently introduced hypofractionated concepts that result in 8 to 10-fold smaller target volumes. Retrospective data argues for an improvement in voice quality with non-inferior local control. Based on these findings, single vocal cord irradiation (SVCI) has been implemented as a routine approach in some institutions for ESGC in recent years. However, prospective data directly comparing SVCI with surgery is lacking. The aim of VoiceS is to fill this gap.

Methods

In this prospective randomized multi-center open-label phase III study with a superiority design, 34 patients with histopathologically confirmed, untreated, unilateral stage 0-I ESGC (unilateral cTis or cT1a) will be randomized to SVCI or transoral CO₂-laser microsurgical cordectomy (TLM). Average difference in voice quality, measured by using the voice handicap index (VHI) will be modeled over four time points (6, 12, 18, and 24 months). Primary endpoint of this study will be the patient-reported subjective voice quality between 6 to 24 months after randomization. Secondary endpoints will include perceptual impression of the voice via roughness – breathiness – hoarseness (RBH) assessment at the above-mentioned time points. Additionally, quantitative characteristics of voice, loco-regional tumor control at 2 and 5 years, and treatment toxicity at 2 and 5 years based on CTCAE v.5.0 will be reported.

Discussion

To our knowledge, VoiceS is the first randomized phase III trial comparing SVCI with TLM. Results of this study may lead to improved decision-making in the treatment of ESGC.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04057209. Registered on 15 August 2019. Cantonal Ethics Committee KEK-BE 2019-01506

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06841-5.

Evaluation of Voice After Definitive Radiotherapy in Patients of Early Stage Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Larynx (Glottis): A Prospective Observational Study

Post treatment voice quality is an important consideration in choosing the management option for laryngeal cancer. We assessed voice quality after radiotherapy in patients of early squamous cell carcinoma of glottis comprehensively using Videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS), Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia and Strain (GRBAS) scores and Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-10. Fifty four consenting patients of early squamous cell carcinoma of glottis (Tis, T1 and T2) awaiting definitive radiotherapy were recruited consecutively. Voice was evaluated by VLS, GRBAS scores and VHI-10 before radiotherapy as well as 3 months and 12 months after radiotherapy. There were 52 males and 2 females in the study. Hoarseness of voice was the commonest presenting symptom. Mean duration of symptoms was 2.45 months (± 0.80), ranging from 1 to 4 months. 35 (64.82%) were T1 while 19 (35.18%) were T2 lesions. They received 60-70 Gy of radiotherapy in 28-35 fractions. There was only one recurrence on follow up for 12 months. On VLS at 12 months post-RT the periodicity, phase symmetry, mucosal waves and amplitude were normal in 74.07%, 70.37%, 56.67% and 78.7% cases respectively. Complete glottic closure was obtained in 72.22%. The voice was 'acceptable' (Grade 1 or 2 on VLS parameters) in more than 90% cases. Mean total GRBAS score was 3.39 (± 2.67). Mean total VHI-10 was 6.7 (± 1.75). All indices were significantly better than pre RT levels. Good quality of voice can be expected after radiotherapy for early glottic cancer in majority of patients.

Long-term functional outcomes in tumour stage T2 glottic carcinoma after radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term functional outcomes in patients who received primary radiotherapy for tumour-node stage T₂N₀ glottic carcinoma, stratified for tumour extension.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed on patients who were treated with radiotherapy for T₂N₀ glottic carcinoma. Four questionnaires were used to measure different aspects of functional outcome. In addition, objective evaluation and perceptual analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients were included in this study. The median time between the start of radiotherapy and assessment was 42 months (range, 26-143 months). Patients reported high-level functioning, with low symptom scores and good swallowing function, and showed a median dysphonia grade of 1.5. The median Voice Handicap Index-30 score was 17.5.

CONCLUSION

Patients with T₂N₀ glottic carcinoma treated with radiotherapy had good long-term quality of life, with low symptom scores, good swallowing functioning and slightly elevated voice outcome parameters.

Change in Voice Quality after Radiotherapy for Early Glottic Cancer

Our aim was to track the changes in voice quality for two years after radiotherapy (RT) for early glottic cancer. A videoendostroboscopy, subjective patient and phoniatrician voice assessments, a Voice Handicap Index questionnaire, and objective acoustic measurements (F0, jitter, shimmer, maximal phonation time) were performed on 50 patients with T1 glottic carcinomas at 3, 12, and 24 months post-RT. The results were compared between the subsequent assessments, and between the assessments at 3 months and 24 months post-RT. The stroboscopy showed a gradual progression of fibrosis of the vocal folds with a significant difference apparent when the assessments at 3 months and 24 months were compared (p < 0.001). Almost all of the subjective assessments of voice quality showed an improvement during the first 2 years, but significant differences were noted at 24 months. Jitter and shimmer deteriorated in the first year after RT with a significant deterioration noticed between the sixth and twelfth months (p = 0.048 and p = 0.002, respectively). Two years after RT, only 8/50 (16%) patients had normal voices. The main reasons for a decreased voice quality after RT for early glottic cancer were post-RT changes in the larynx. Despite a significant improvement in the voice after RT shown in a few of the evaluation methods, only a minority of the patients had a normal voice two years post-RT.

Comparison of Oncologic Outcomes Between Radiation Therapy and Transoral Laser Microsurgery for Early Glottic and Supraglottic Squamous Cell Carcinoma; a Retrospective Cohort Study with Literature Review

Background: Laryngeal cancer is known as the second most common airway cancer. These tumors are usually diagnosed early; thus, it is important to choose the optimal treatment modality. Several studies are comparing transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and radiotherapy in early-stage laryngeal cancer. Due to a paucity of high-quality research and the lack of conclusive randomized prospective studies, standard care for early glottic cancer is still a matter of controversy. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, T1-T2N0M0 laryngeal cancer patients who underwent TLM or radiotherapy were compared with statistical methods in terms of Recurrence Rate, Organ (Larynx) Preservation Rate, Mortality Rate, and Overall Survival. Results: A total of 123 patients were evaluated in this study, 65 of whom underwent TLM and 58 underwent radiotherapy. There was no significant difference in demographic and medical characteristics of patients. The rate of recurrence was 27.3% in the TLM group and 43.6% in the radiotherapy group. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.114). Overall mortality rate (5.4% vs 39.6%, P = 0.001), Disease-specific mortality rate (5.5% vs 39.9%, P = 0.001), and aorgan preservation rate (98.5%vs 89.7%, P = 0.035) were all in favor of TLM. Conclusions: TLM appears to be the treatment of choice in patients with early laryngeal cancer due to a better overall survival rate, lower disease-specific mortality rate, and better organ preservation rate than definitive radiotherapy.

Early-Stage Glottic Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Era of Image-Guided Radiotherapy

Early-stage squamous cell cancer (SCC) of the glottis has a good prognosis. Therefore, patients have long survival outcomes and may potentially suffer from late toxicities of radiotherapy. Radiotherapy with a conventional parallel-opposed-pair or anterior-oblique beam arrangements for stage 1 and 2 glottic SCC have field borders that traditionally cover the entire larynx, exposing organs-at-risk (e.g. carotid arteries, contralateral vocal cord, contralateral arytenoid and inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscles) to high radiation doses. The potential long-term risk of cerebrovascular events has attracted much attention to the dose that carotid arteries receive. Swallow and respiratory motion of laryngeal structures has been an important factor that previously limited reduction of the radiation treatment volume. Motion has been evaluated using multiple imaging modalities and this information has been used to calculate PTV margins for generation of more limited target volumes. This review discusses the current literature surrounding dose-effect relationships for various organs-at-risk and the late toxicities that are associated with them. This article also reviews the currently available data and effects of laryngeal motions on dosimetry to the primary target. We also review the current limitations and benefits of a more targeted approach of radiotherapy for early-stage glottic SCCs and the evolution of CT-based IGRT and MR-guided radiotherapy techniques that may facilitate a shift away from a conventional 3D-conformal radiotherapy approach.

Multifunctional Hybrid Nanoprobe for Photoacoustic/PET/MR Imaging-Guided Photothermal Therapy of Laryngeal Cancer

Laryngeal cancer is highly aggressive and insensitive to conventional targeted therapies, which often result in poor therapeutic outcomes. Image-guided precision therapy is a promising strategy in oncology that has superior safety and efficacy versus conventional therapies. Here, we present a multifunctional theranostic nanoplatform based on melanin-coated gold nanorod (GNR) that exhibits excellent multimodal imaging ability and photothermal effects. These attributes make the platform applicable for multimodal photoacoustic (PA)/positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) image-guided photothermal treatment of laryngeal cancer. The melanin nanoparticles markedly suppress the cytotoxicity of the template cetyltrimethylammonium bromide bilayer and conferred the GNR with excellent PET/MR imaging performances, due to their native biocompatibilities and strong affinities to metal ions. Moreover, the introduction of GNR to the melanin nanoparticles greatly improved the near-infrared absorbances and passive targeting capabilities, leading to exceptional PA imaging and photothermal ablation of tumors. The nanoplatform exhibits high stability and dispersity under physiological conditions. After intravenous injection, the nanoplatform could be precisely tracked in vivo and enabled laryngopharyngeal superficial cancer to be located and imaged. Combined photothermal therapy effectively ablated tumors with negligible side effects. Thus, this work presents a unique and biocompatible nanoplatform that allows multimodal imaging, high anti-tumor PTT efficacy, and negligible side effects in the treatment of laryngeal cancer.

Early glottic cancer recurrence: A critical review on its current management

INTRODUCTION

Recurrent early glottic cancer (rEGC) poses several issues in terms of timely diagnosis, correct re-staging, and treatment. We want to critically review the latest evidence about rEGC considering its epidemiology, biology, diagnostic challenges, and treatment strategies.

METHODS

A systematic search of the literature using PubMed from 1990 to October 31, 2020 was performed.

RESULTS

There are many different treatment options available (open surgery, transoral mini-invasive surgery, radiotherapy), and many factors related to the patient's status and previous treatments must be considered when planning the best management strategy for rEGC. While its overall prognosis remains satisfactory, it is of the utmost importance to appreciate all the clinical implications derived from the choice of the initial therapeutic modality, and from a correct primary and recurrent staging.

CONCLUSION

The balance between oncological and voice and swallowing functions represents the fundamental principle underlying rEGC management. Future studies should focus on molecular profiling of rEGC, and on the results of the emerging radiation delivery techniques and mini-invasive procedures.

Long-term Oncologic Outcomes of 1188 Tis-T2 Glottic Cancers Treated by Transoral Laser Microsurgery

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate long-term disease-specific survival (DSS) and organ preservation (OP) rates in patients affected by Tis-T2 glottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated by carbon dioxide transoral laser microsurgery (CO₂ TOLMS).

STUDY DESIGN

Single-center retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary academic hospital.

METHODS

The study included patients treated by CO₂ TOLMS for Tis-T2 glottic SCC at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the University of Brescia, Italy, from 1988 to 2018. The male:female ratio was 11.2:1, and the mean age was 64 years (range, 31-95). T categories were distributed as follows: 124 (10%) Tis, 646 (54%) T1a, 172 (15%) T1b, and 246 (21%) T2.

RESULTS

Ten- and 20-year DSS rates were 97.6% and 96.3%, respectively, and 10- and 20-year OP rates were 94.7% and 93%. During the follow-up, 91% of patients were treated by CO₂ TOLMS alone, while the remaining needed adjunctive treatments. Assessing the impact of multiple sessions of CO₂ TOLMS, DSS showed no significant difference in terms of patients treated by 1, 2, or >2 procedures. Conversely, patients treated by >2 sessions of CO₂ TOLMS showed a significantly worse OP rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Our series validates CO₂ TOLMS as a long-term treatment strategy for early glottic SCC. Salvage CO₂ TOLMS provided optimal results in terms of DSS and OP in patients with recurrence after previous transoral surgery.

Analysis of prognostic factors for Tis-2N0M0 early glottic cancer with different treatment methods

INTRODUCTION

In many regions, laryngeal carcinoma is a common upper respiratory tract cancer, most commonly involving the glottic region. The treatment of early glottic cancer includes radiotherapy, open surgery and laryngeal laser microsurgery. However, the preferred treatment for early glottic cancer is still controversial.

OBJECTIVES

To study the factors affecting the 5-year survival rate of T_is-2N₀M₀ early glottis cancer and to demonstrate the oncological safety of different treatments.

METHODS

144 patients with early glottic cancer were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were clinically node negative. 53 patients underwent open surgery, transoral CO₂ laser microsurgery in 46 cases and radiotherapy in 45 cases. The patients were followed up for 26 - 84 months, with an average follow-up period of 62.9 months.

RESULTS

The 5-year overall survival was 82.6%. The 5 year survival rates of open surgery, laser microsurgery and radiotherapy were 83.0%, 82.6% and 82.2%, respectively. There was no significant difference in 5-year survival rate among the three treatments (p =  0.987). In multivariate analysis, age, T-stage, pathological grading, and anterior commissure involvement were important prognostic factors for early glottic cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no significant difference in 5 year survival rate among patients treated by either radiotherapy, laser microsurgery or open surgery for early glottic cancer. We urge more attention to the age, T-stage, pathological grade, and anterior commissure involvement of the patients.

Perceptual and Acoustic Outcomes of Early-Stage Glottic Cancer After Laser Surgery or Radiotherapy: A Meta-Analysis

Laser surgery (LS) or radiotherapy (RT) is normally recommended in early glottic cancer. The objective of this study was to perform a comprehensive meta-analysis of acoustic and perceptual outcomes to compare voice quality of LS or RT in early-stage glottic cancer. Data sources were obtained after searching PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO, and RISS using the following search terms: glottic cancer, glottic carcinoma, endoscopic surgery, laser surgery, radiotherapy, radiation, voice, voice quality, and grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain (GRBAS) scale. Articles that compared voice outcomes between LS and RT were identified. This meta-analysis included 15 articles with 744 patients, including 400 in the LS group and 344 in the RT group. Random effects models were selected. Forest plots included standardized mean differences, standard errors, variance, 95% confidence intervals (lower limit to upper limit), z-values, and P-values. In perceptual analysis, grade (G) and asthenia (A) of RT were significantly better than LS. There was no statistically significant difference in roughness (R), breath (B), or strain (S) between LS and RT groups. Jitter, shimmer, and noise to harmonic ratio measurements showed significant differences, resulting in enhanced posttreatment effect of RT compared to LS. Results of our meta-analysis suggested that RT might lead to superior voice quality than LS in early glottic cancer.