QUANTITATIVE-ANALYSIS OF VOICE QUALITY IN EARLY GLOTTIC LARYNGEAL CARCINOMAS TREATED WITH RADIOTHERAPY

The quality of voice after radiotherapy is generally considered to be better than that after surgery for early glottic (T1a and T1b) carcino mas. Studies concerning voice quality after radiotherapy are scarce, a nd results have been contradictory concerning actual normalization of voice following therapy. This study was designed to compare several vo ice parameters of patients successfully treated 1-12 years previously with radiotherapy (5750-7000 cGy) for early glottic carcinoma. Paramet ers involved an age- and sex-matched control group. Results showed tha t voice quality following radiotherapy was less than normal for maximu m vocal intensity, dynamic vocal intensity range, jitter, and mean fun damental frequency. These findings showed that voice following radioth erapy could not be considered normal.