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Telephonic voice intelligibility after laryngeal cancer treatment: is therapeutic approach significant?

  • Laryngology
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Abstract

The aim was to investigate telephonic voice intelligibility in patients treated for laryngeal cancer using different approaches. In total, 90 patients treated for laryngeal cancer using different approaches and 12 healthy volunteers were recruited. Each patient and each healthy control read a list of words and sentences during a telephone call. Six auditors listened to each telephonic recording and transcribed the words and sentences they understood. Mean intelligibility rates for each treatment were assessed and compared. Regarding words, the poorest intelligibility was noted for type II open partial horizontal laryngectomies, followed by total laryngectomies. The best intelligibility was found for transoral laser microsurgery, followed by radiotherapy alone. For sentences, the poorest intelligibility was noted for type II open partial horizontal laryngectomies, followed by chemoradiotherapy. The best intelligibility was found for radiotherapy alone and transoral laser microsurgery. More aggressive surgery as well as chemoradiotherapy correlated with significantly poorer outcomes. Transoral laser microsurgery or radiotherapy alone ensured the best telephonic voice intelligibility. Intermediate-advanced T stages at diagnosis also showed significantly poorer intelligibility outcomes, suggesting that T stage represents an independent negative prognostic factor for voice intelligibility after treatment.

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Acknowledgments

Sincere thanks to Professor AR Antonelli for valuable suggestions and encouragement to continue research in the field of laryngeal oncology and to Miss V. Novanta and Dr. V. Carbonaro for their help as listeners.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Head and Neck Service, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy

    Erika Crosetti

  2. Otorhinolaryngology Service, Department of Oncology, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Marco Fantini, Giulia Arrigoni, Agata Lombardo & Giovanni Succo

  3. Otorhinolaryngology Service, Department of Surgery, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Laura Salonia

  4. National Institute of Metrological Research, Turin, Italy

    Alessio Atzori

  5. L’altrastatistica srl, Consultancy and Training, Biostatistics office, Rome, Italy

    Valentina Panetta

  6. Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “L. Sacco”, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Antonio Schindler

  7. Otorhinolaryngology Service, Vittorio Veneto Hospital, Vittorio Veneto, Treviso, Italy

    Andy Bertolin & Giuseppe Rizzotto

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  1. Erika Crosetti
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Correspondence to Erika Crosetti.

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Crosetti, E., Fantini, M., Arrigoni, G. et al. Telephonic voice intelligibility after laryngeal cancer treatment: is therapeutic approach significant?. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 274, 337–346 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-016-4217-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-016-4217-9

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