Quality of Life in Long-term Survivors after Laryngectomy

Background: This study was designed to assess the postoperative quality of life (QoL) of 30 patients successfully treated with a laryngectomy. Methods: QoL was evaluated with two validated questionnaires (EORTC-QLQ-C30 and EORTC-QLQ-H&N35) during the regular outpatient follow-up. To analyse the long-term quality of life, we divided our collective into two groups of patients; one consisting of patients whose treatment had been completed less than five years ago and one whose therapy had been finished more than five years ago. Results: The collective consisted of 24 men (80%) and 6 (20%) women with a mean age of 58.8 +/- 8.7 years. Mean follow-up was 53 months (range: 12-110). Most patients (n=15, 50%) had a tumor stadium IV after UICC. Voice rehabilitation was achieved in all patients with a Provoxreg voice prosthesis. The global QoL was rated as satisfying with a mean value of 62. The analysis of the specific questionnaire showed mostly a limitation of smell. Patients, whose treatment was longer than five years ago, showed a slight improvement in the global QoL. Overall we could not find a significant difference concerning the QoL between the two groups. Conclusions: In our study the QoL of laryngectomized patients was satisfying. The most common symptoms were problems with smell, cough and dyspnoea.