Voice improvement in patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis after combined treatment with cidofovir and CO₂ laser surgery

Mechanical debulking of laryngeal papillomas is associated with voice disorders due to impairment of the vocal fold’s mucosa. Intraepithelial injection of cidofovir reduces damage to the laryngeal structures and thus improves vocal parameters. The aim of our study was to compare vocal quality before and after cidofovir and CO₂ laser treatment by means of objective phoniatric parameters and to obtain evidence concerning voice outcomes. The vocal parameters of 42 patients with RRP were assessed before and after intralesional cidofovir and CO₂ laser debulking treatment (Lumenis AcuPulse 40 CO₂ laser, wavelength 10.6 μm; Lumenis Ltd., Yokneam, Israel). The laser was used in SuperPulse^™ mode with power tailored on the target structures (average 7 W). The depth of tissue penetration was 1 mm with a single burst of energy lasting 0.3 ms. Most of the patients had previously undergone traditional surgery (1–105 procedures); in 7/42, the video stroboscopic examination revealed extensive scar tissue covering the mucosa of the vocal folds, limiting the mucosal wave. The significance level for all calculations was p < 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 10 by StatSoft Polska. The methodology included subjective voice evaluation (GRBAS), videostroboscopy, analysis of the acoustic laryngeal tone (MDVP), spectrographic analysis, and voice handicap index (VHI). The GRBAS scale during spontaneous conversation revealed better phonation results after cidofovir treatment in all 42 patients. Scars were not observed in the presented group. In the MDVP laryngeal tone analysis before surgery parameters defining the amplitude and frequency of laryngeal tone were significantly elevated compared to the state after surgery. After treatment, both jitter and shimmer were reduced in all subjects. Even more pronounced changes were observed in the spectrographic analysis. In all analyzed patients, there was a significant reduction in VHI scores showing improvement in voice self-assessment. A satisfactory improvement in voice quality was observed in all RRP patients treated with cidofovir and CO₂ laser.