Vocal function following carbon dioxide laser surgery for glottic carcinoma.

Vocal function following laser surgery for glottic T1a carcinoma was evaluated in 17 patients and compared to vocal function following radiotherapy in 14 patients. The results are summarized as follows. 1) A slight degree of hoarseness was found more frequently following laser surgery than following radiotherapy. The quality of hoarseness was rough and breathy in most cases. 2) In stroboscopic examination, incomplete glottal closure and diminution or lack of vibration of the operated vocal fold were frequently observed following laser surgery. 3) There was no marked difference in maximum phonation time, mean airflow rate, fundamental frequency range of phonation, intensity range of phonation, and intensity-flow ratio between the laser and the radiotherapy groups. On the basis of these results, we conclude that there is little difference in vocal function between postlaser and postradiotherapy patients as far as conversational voice is concerned.