Office-Based Blue Laser Therapy for Vocal Fold Leukoplakia: A Preliminary Report of 12 Cases

Abstract

Objective: To report the efficacy of office-based blue laser therapy for vocal fold leukoplakia. Study Design: A retrospective case series. Setting: A tertiary care center. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with vocal fold leukoplakia who underwent office-based blue laser therapy between July 2019 and October 2022 was conducted. The video recordings of their laryngeal examination and their voice evaluation were analyzed before and after surgical intervention. Results: A total of 10 patients, eight with unilateral disease and 2 with bilateral disease, were included in this study. In total, 12 vocal folds with leukoplakia were treated. Nine had a single session and 3 had 2 sessions due to incomplete regression of the lesion after the first laser therapy session. Following treatment, 9 regressed completely (75%) and 3 regressed partially (25%). The mean Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) score decreased significantly from 15.4 ± 12.9 preoperatively to 3.8 ± 2.86 after surgery (p =.023). There was a statistically significant decrease in the means of grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain (p <.05). There was also a statistically significant decrease in the jitter and shimmer percent (p =.008 and p =.048, respectively) and a significant increase in the maximum phonation time from 9.63 ± 3.83 to 13.54 ± 5.92 seconds (p =.039). Conclusion: This preliminary study indicates that office-based blue laser therapy is an effective treatment modality for vocal fold leukoplakia. © 2023 The Authors. OTO Open published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.