RETRACTED: Laryngeal Function After Radiation Therapy

Voice rehabilitation for laryngeal cancer patients: Functional outcomes and patient perceptions

“…At study end point, the VR group had a significantly more breathy voice quality. Other studies have suggested that the breathy quality improves post radiotherapy . The difference between the control group's slight improvement and the VR group's nil change may perhaps be related to the choice of intervention used within this VR program.…”

“…Different auditory‐perceptual scales could also have been used to conduct the perceptual voice analysis; however, the GRBAS scale was specifically selected as it is a widely utilized clinical tool and has been extensively used in prior laryngeal cancer research. It is also acknowledged that the study cohort was heterogeneous with the study sample, including almost all laryngeal cancers (i.e., Tis to T4 size, glottic, and supraglottic tumors), which we know present differently in terms of voice outcomes postradiotherapy . As such, different outcomes may well present in other studies with more homogenous cohorts.…”

“…Other studies have suggested that the breathy quality improves post radiotherapy. [29][30][31] The difference between the control group's slight improvement and the VR group's nil change may perhaps be related to the choice of intervention used within this VR program. This study used a structured hierarchy building on the foundation skills of diaphragmatic breathing, specific vocal techniques, and the coordination of breathing and phonation (Appendix A; available online).…”

“…It is also acknowledged that the study cohort was heterogeneous with the study sample, including almost all laryngeal cancers (i.e., Tis to T4 size, glottic, and supraglottic tumors), which we know present differently in terms of voice outcomes postradiotherapy. 11,29,31,33 As such, different outcomes may well present in other studies with more homogenous cohorts. The inclusion of all laryngeal cancer sizes and subtypes, however, is also considered a strength because the proportions (tumor size, location) in the study's sample are similar to that of the larger laryngeal cancer population.…”

Survival benefit of surgical approach for advanced oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer: A retrospective analysis

“…The role of the surgical approach in head and neck cancer as a whole also needs to be reexamined because of the following reasons. First, the often cited benefit of organ preservation does not always mean function preservation in head and neck cancer: dysfunction in speech and swallowing may still occur when radiotherapy alone is applied . Second, data derived from the 1973‐2006 database of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the U.S. National Cancer Institute revealed no change or even a worse trend in the survival rate of patients with laryngeal cancers despite the introduction of new treatment practices based on organ preservation.…”