Awake Blue Light vs.
KTP
Laser Treatment for Vocal Fold Lesions: A Randomized Controlled Trial
R. Jun Lin, Peter Y. F. Zeng, Patrick MacInnis, Garret Horton, Jennifer Anderson ABSTRACT
Objective
To compare clinical outcomes of a 445‐nm blue light (BL) laser with the established 532‐nm potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser for office‐based treatment of benign vocal fold lesions.
Methods
In this parallel‐group, open‐label randomized controlled trial, adults (≥ 18 years) with benign vocal fold lesions underwent baseline VHI‐10 and laryngeal stroboscopy, followed by in‐office laser treatment. Pain visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were collected at baseline and daily for 7 days after the procedure. The primary outcome was the between‐group difference in the change in Voice Handicap Index‐10 (VHI‐10) scores. Secondary outcomes included between‐group comparisons of post‐procedural pain and stroboscopic parameters at 90 days after treatment. Linear mixed‐effects model assessed changes in VHI‐10 and pain VAS over time, while Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel and logistic regression tests compared stroboscopy outcomes.
Results
Ninety‐eight patients were enrolled (49 per group). Baseline characteristics were similar aside from a slightly younger age in the KTP group ( p = 0.048). VHI‐10 scores improved significantly in both groups at postoperative day (POD)7 (−5.98), POD30 (−9.28), and POD90 (−12.43) (all p ≤ 0.001), with no between‐group differences ( p = 0.596). Pain decreased significantly over time ( p < 0.001), without group differences ( p = 0.47). At POD90, complete vocal fold closure occurred in 91.2% (BL) and 85.7% (KTP) of patients ( p = 0.74). Normal mucosal wave was observed in 79.4% (BL) and 81.0% (KTP), with no significant differences.
Conclusion
BL laser demonstrated clinical outcomes comparable to KTP, with similar voice improvement, pain reduction, and stroboscopic results.
Level of Evidence
2