Vocal changes following radiotherapy to the head and neck for non-laryngeal tumors

To investigate vocal changes in patients following the neck irradiation for non-laryngeal tumors sparing the glottic region. Fifteen patients were enrolled for the study. Phonatory effort and voice evaluation were reported. Perceptual evaluation and acoustic analysis were performed. Men/women ratio was 6/9. The mean age was 54 years with a range from 24 to 84. The most common primary site of tumor was the nasopharynx and tongue. The mean phonatory effort was significantly greater in the irradiated group versus controls (0.54 vs. 0.08 with a P value 0.01). Fifteen percent reported their voice as being poor and almost 85% as being fair. All the parameters of the GRABS perceptual evaluation were significantly worse in the irradiated group. There were no statistically significant differences between all the acoustic variables in both groups except for an decrease in the Habitual pitch in the irradiated patients. Radiation therapy to head and neck region can affect voice even if the radiation beams spare the vocal folds.