The nature and severity of voice disorders in lung cancer patients

This study examines the nature and severity of voice disorders in a set of lung cancer patients. Patients’ concern for their voice, relative to other lung cancer symptoms, will also be examined. Voice assessment included both the patients’ view (Voice Handicap Index) and expert clinicians’ perceptual rating of voice quality (GRBAS). Additionally, visual analogue scales measured how much patients were concerned by their symptoms relative to other symptoms. The Medical Research Council dyspnoea and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status scales were completed. The majority of lung cancer patients (90%) were perceptually dysphonic. However, a smaller proportion of patients (27.5%), were concerned by their voices and perceived significant handicap from it. These patients report comparable levels of voice handicap to other dysphonic patient groups in the literature