Pulsed Dye Laser in Treating Patients With Post Radiation Dysphonia

Pulsed Dye Laser for Treatment of Post Radiation Dysphonia

This pilot trial studies pulsed dye laser in treating patients with post radiation dysphonia. Dysphonia, or vocal cord scarring, can include trouble with the voice when trying to talk, such as hoarseness, change in voice pitch, and poor voice quality, and it commonly happens after radiation therapy for laryngeal cancer. Pulsed dye laser may improve post radiation dysphonia.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate the use of pulsed dye laser in treatment of the dysphonia that commonly results after radiation therapy for laryngeal carcinoma.

OUTLINE:

Patients undergo pulsed dye laser monthly for three months.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 1, 3, and 6 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients suffering from dysphonia after radiation therapy for glottic carcinoma will be included in the study
• Patients will be included if their initial stage was T1 N0 M0 or T2 N0 M0

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients having previously undergone large surgical resections of the larynx or hypopharynx will be excluded
• Patients fewer than 1 year out from completion of radiation therapy will be excluded
• Patients with local disease recurrence would be excluded from the trial
• Patients in whom the transnasal endoscope is poorly tolerated or patients in whom transnasal endoscopic laryngoscopy is contraindicated will be excluded