Complete voice loss after total laryngectomy represents an important factor influencing the quality of life (QoL) in patients with laryngeal cancer.

To compare the QoL of the patients after total laryngectomy with the patients after partial laryngeal resection.

SF-36 Health Survey was used. The patients (aged 45-60, males) were divided into three groups: control group (n=23), partial laryngeal resection (n=22) and total laryngectomy (n=21). The following scales were used: physical functioning (PF), role-physical (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH): physical health cluster, and vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role-emotional (RE), mental health (MH): mental health cluster.

The analysis of the obtained data showed impaired social-psychological functioning and well-being of the patients with laryngeal cancer compared to control group. Thus, the investigated parameters of physical health were decreased by 23,7%, and those of mental health by 22,7%. Interestingly, the group of patients with complete voice loss had impaired QoL compared to patients after partial resection. Thus, the decrease in parameters of physical and mental health in the group after total laryngectomy compared to the patients after partial resection was 12,7% and 5,5%, respectively.

Our study proves that QoL of the patients with laryngeal cancer is significantly lower compared with the control group. The voice loss negatively influences the QoL, which is proved by impairment of all investigated parameters in the group of patients after total laryngectomy compared to patients after partial resection.