Phonosurgical Augmentation After Laser Resection of Early Glottic Carcinoma

Objectives: Transoral Laser Microsurgery (TLM) is widely used in for treating T1/T2 glottic cancers. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a safe and commonly-used injectable in vocal cord augmentation. We report on the results of our single-blinded, randomized-controlled trial (RCT) investigating the impact of intra-operative HA injection on voice outcomes in early glottic cancer. Methods: Patients with T1/T2 glottic cancers were randomized to the treatment group (n=14) receiving HA injection to the unaffected cord during TLM; or the control group, receiving no injection (n=16). All patients had a Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) questionnaire and a Maximum Phonation Time (MPT) measurement preoperatively and at 3, 12 and 24 months post-operatively. Mean change in VHI-10 and MPT, between pre-operative and post-operative time points, and between the time points, were compared. Survival estimates were also calculated.