OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the production of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 by stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from patients with supraglottic laryngeal cancer before and after surgical treatment. METHODS: Fourteen patients with advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer were studied. Cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated during the preoperative and late postoperative periods were stimulated with concanavalin A and Bacille Calmette-Guerin, and the supernatant concentrations of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 were measured. RESULTS: For non-stimulated cultures, the interferon-gamma levels produced by the preoperative period and the late postoperative period cultures were lower than the levels produced by the control group cultures. The interferon-gamma levels after stimulation with concanavalin A were higher in the late postoperative period cultures than in the preoperative evaluation cultures. Stimulation with Bacille Calmette-Guerin led to the production of similar levels of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 by all cultures; thus, stimulation increased the levels of interferon-gamma produced by both the preoperative and postoperative cultures relative to the levels produced by the corresponding unstimulated cultures. CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer exhibit an in vitro deficiency in interferongamma secretion by mononuclear cells. Stimulated cells seem to recover this function during the postoperative period.

Várias técnicas para a reconstrução da laringe, pós laringectomias parciais verticais, são citadas na literatura, algumas utilizando estruturas da própria laringe, como a prega vestibular, porém, poucas dão destaque à análise das funções laríngeas após estas reconstruções. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as funções laríngeas em pacientes submetidos à cordectomia completa (tipo IV), reconstruídos com retalho de prega vestibular. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Estudo de coorte transversal. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Dez pacientes, nove do sexo masculino e um do sexo feminino, com idades entre 45 e 75 anos, e média de 64,5, com carcinomas glóticos tratados por cordectomias totais ou completas (tipo IV) e reconstruídos com retalho de prega vestibular, foram submetidos a videolaringoestroboscopia, onde se avaliou a permeabilidade laríngea, o posicionamento do retalho, o fechamento laríngeo, a movimentação das aritenóides e a característica da fonte sonora: vibrátil ou friccional, e quando vibrátil, a localização e as estruturas que a compunham. A qualidade vocal foi analisada por avaliação perceptiva auditiva e objetiva computadorizada. A função de proteção das vias aéreas durante a deglutição foi realizada pela avaliação endoscópica da deglutição. RESULTADOS: Os resultados evidenciaram que não houve necessidade de manter a traqueostomia no pós-operatório tardio, pois a luz laríngea reconstruída mantinha-se pérvia. A função de proteção estava mantida em todos os casos, a coaptação completa em 30% e somente um paciente teve a movimentação da aritenóide limitada devido à imobilidade do lado operado. Evidenciaram, também, que havia fonte sonora vibrátil em 90% dos casos e que em todos a prega vestibular participava da sua composição. Em sete pacientes a fonte sonora vibrátil se localizava na região glótica. A análise computadorizada revelou freqüência fundamental média de 177,5 Hz, jitter médio de 1,11% e shimmer de 7,04%. Pela escala GRBAS, um paciente apresentou voz normal e 4 tiveram disfonia discreta. CONCLUSÕES: A reconstrução laríngea pós-cordectomia realizada com o retalho da prega vestibular tornou possível emissão de voz normal (freqüência fundamental 205 Hz, jitter 0,13%, shimmer 1,16%), proporcionando coaptação completa em 30% dos casos, fonte sonora vibrátil na região glótica em 70% e participação do retalho como estrutura vibrátil em 90%, além de preservar as funções laríngeas de respiração e proteção das vias aéreas durante a deglutição.

Several reports of techniques for larynx reconstruction after partial vertical laryngectomy are available in the literature, some of them using structures of the larynx itself such as the vestibular fold, but few have emphasized analysis of laryngeal function after reconstruction. Thus, the objective of the present study was to assess laryngeal function in patients submitted to total or complete cordectomy (type IV) followed by reconstruction with vestibular fold flap. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort transversal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten patients, nine males and one female aged 45 to 75 years (mean age: 64.5 years), with glottis carcinomas treated by total or complete cordectomy (type IV) and reconstructed with vestibular fold flap were submitted to videolaryngostroboscopy for assessment of laryngeal permeability, flap positioning, laryngeal closure, arytenoid movement, characteristics of speech sound source (vibrating or frictional) and, when the source was vibrating, location and structures of the sound source. Voice quality was evaluated by perceptual acoustic assessment and by objective computer analysis. The function of lower airway protection during swallowing was analyzed by endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. RESULTS: There was no need to maintain tracheostomy during the late postoperative period since the reconstructed laryngeal lumen remained pervious. The function of airway protection during swallowing was preserved in all patients, with full coaptation of laryngeal structures in 30% of the cases and one patient presented immobility of the operated hemilarynx in midline position. Vibrating sound source was detected in 90% of the cases and was located in the glottic region in seven patients. The vestibular fold flap participated in the composition of the vibrating sound source in all cases. Computerized analysis revealed the following mean values: fundamental frequency, 177.5 Hz, jitter 1.11% and shimmer 7.04%. Using GRBAS scale we observed normal voice in one patient and four patients with discrete dysphonia. CONCLUSIONS: Laryngeal reconstruction with vestibular fold flap after cordectomy was able to maintain laryngeal function, providing normal voice according to perceptive auditory or acoustic analysis (fundamental frequency, 205 Hz, jitter 0.13% and shimmer 1.16%), with full coaptation of laryngeal structures in 30% of the cases, vibrating sound source in the glottic region in 70% and participation of the flap as a vibrating structure in 90%, as well as the maintenance of the laryngeal functions of breathing and airway protection during swallowing.