Professor Lithuanian Health Science University hospital Kaunas Clinic; Klaipeda university Kaunas, Kauno Apskritis, Lithuania
Disclosure(s):
Nora Siupsinskiene, MD PhD: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Introduction: Aim of the study was to assess the quality of life in patients previously treated for early stage laryngeal cancer by open partial laryngectomy or CO2 laser-assisted endoscopic surgery versus healthy controls.
Methods: A total of 65 male patients aged from 45 to 80 years, who diagnosed for early (T1/T2) laryngeal cancer treated by open partial laryngectomy (OPL) group,N=54) or CO2 laser assisted endoscopic V/VI type cordectomy (LEC group, N=11) with the follow-up at least of 1 year after operation, who were alive and free of recurrence included to the study. Control group consisted of concurrently assessed 50 healthy similar age and gender adults. QOL was evaluated using validated EORTC QOL-C30 and H&N35 questionnaires. Emotional distress was assessed using Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. Data were collected from 2016 December to 2018 January.
Results: Majority (70.3%) of OPL group patients considered their global health status is moderate to good. However, the majority (72.76%) of LEC rated their global health status significantly higher - as good to excellent, similarly to the healthy controls. Only OPL showed significantly lower scores for most functional QOL scales in comparison to control group (p < 0.05). OPL significantly more concerned on fatigue, pain and insomnia than LEC did. Financial difficulties caused by patient’s physical condition and medical treatment were actual for both groups. Specific H&N symptoms analysis showed that mean scores of majority (13 of 18) assessed QOL items were worse for OPL vs. controls. No significant differences were found between data of LEC and control groups. Emotional distress on HAD scale was in the same level for all patients and controls.
Conclusions: Global health status for patients treated for early stage laryngeal cancer seems to be good with predominant rating from moderate to excellent. However, the majority of QOL aspects were worse in patients treated by open partial laryngectomy in comparison to patients after CO2 laser-assisted endoscopic surgery and healthy controls.
