Speech outcomes after laryngeal cancer management

As our ability to treat laryngeal cancer and prolong the lives of our patients improves, we must place increasing importance on maintaining the best voice possible in every case. Treatment options for laryngeal cancer continue to expand, and it is important that otolaryngologists stay well informed, not only concerning the local control and disease-free survival associated with each new treatment but also the expected voice result. The posttreatment voice result can have a profound impact on the patient's quality of life, both socially and economically. We must, therefore, pass this information on to our patients, so that an informed decision can be made by both the patient and surgeon.