Profile and speech-language rehabilitation of patients with laryngeal cancer

Codas. 2019 Mar 7;31(1):e20180060. doi: 10.1590/2317-1782/20182018060.
[Article in Portuguese, English]

Abstract

Purpose: to describe the clinical and sociodemographic profile and analyze the voice rehabilitation outcomes of patients with laryngeal cancer.

Methods: cross-sectional study with 204 individuals with laryngeal cancer treated between 1989 and 2015. The variables describing the patients' profile were presented in absolute values (n) and percentage (%). The association between the speech-language therapy outcome and the sociodemographic and clinical characterization variables was verified by means of uni- and multivariate techniques.

Results: 95.1% of the patients are male; 53.43% are aged 60 or more; 77.37% have elementary education; 44.12% are in the service industry; 81.63% smoke and consume alcohol; 30.4% are stage T3. Absence of nodules was found in 72.00%, and of metastasis, in 85.6% of patients. The most frequent therapeutic procedure was complete or partial laryngectomy (69.61%). There was an association among education, disease stage, habits, and therapeutic outcome with speech-language therapy (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Several causes can affect the prognosis of vocal rehabilitation in patients with laryngeal cancer. Optimization and diversification of new therapeutic procedures are challenges for these patients' speech-language rehabilitation.

Objetivo: descrever o perfil clínico e sociodemográfico e o desfecho da reabilitação fonoaudiológica de pacientes com câncer de laringe.

Método: estudo transversal com 204 pessoas atendidas entre 1989 e 2015. A associação entre desfecho da fonoterapia e variáveis de caracterização sociodemográfica e clínicas foi verificada por técnicas univariadas e multivariadas.

Resultados: prevalência do gênero masculino (95,10%), 60 anos ou mais (53,43%), ensino fundamental (77,37%), setor de serviços (44,12), tabagistas e etilistas (81,63%); estágio T3 (30,4%), ausência de nódulos (72,00%) e de metástase (85,6%). O procedimento terapêutico mais frequente foi a laringectomia total ou parcial (69,61%). Houve associação da escolaridade, estágio da doença, hábitos e procedimento terapêutico com desfecho da fonoterapia (p<0,001).

Conclusão: fatores sociodemográficos e clínicos podem interferir no prognóstico da reabilitação vocal de pessoas com câncer de laringe. A otimização e diversificação de novos procedimentos terapêuticos são desafios na reabilitação fonoaudiológica destas pessoas.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Hospitals, University
  • Humans
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / complications*
  • Laryngectomy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Voice Disorders / etiology
  • Voice Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Young Adult