Aerodynamic Evaluation of Voice Changes in Thyroid Surgery Extent

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of surgical extent on voice using acoustic and aerodynamic measurements in a serially followed thyroidectomy patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: From October 2015 to January 2017, 108 patients who had undergone thyroid surgery and voice test for preoperative, 2, 3, and 6 months postoperatively were classified into five operative types. The radiological stage preoperatively and histopathological stage postoperatively were classified according to the invasion of thyroid capsule and surrounding tissue. For each classification, the results of the voice analysis according to the period were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The difference of voice according to surgical extent, radiological stage, and histopathologic stage showed significant difference only with Maximal phonation time (MPT) over time. However, in the analysis of interaction between each classification and period, Phonation threshold pressure (PTP) only showed significant results. CONCLUSION: Differences in imaging and histopathologic stages have no significant effect on recovery of voice symptoms after thyroid surgery. As the extent of operation increases, the pressure to start vocalization is relatively higher, which also varies with time after surgery.