Flexible Versus Rigid Laryngoscopy: A Prospective, Blinded Comparison of Image Quality.

OBJECTIVE: To compare flexible distal-chip laryngoscopy (FDL) and rigid telescopic laryngoscopy (RTL) in image quality and diagnostic ability. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study; blinded comparison. METHODS: Eighteen normal adult subjects were recruited to undergo both FDL and RTL and normalized videos were recorded. Three blinded laryngologists compared the videos for color fidelity, illumination, resolution, and vascularity, and indicated superiority with FDL, RTL, or no difference. Raters also reported if an abnormality was seen and in which video it was better visualized. Videos for two subjects were repeated to assess intra-rater reliability, making 20 video comparisons across 3 raters for a total of 60 ratings. Differences in responses were analyzed via Mann-Whitney U and Pearson Χ2. Inter-rater reliability was assessed via Fleiss' kappa, and intra-rater reliability was assessed via percent agreement. RESULTS: RTL was rated superior in all categories of image quality (47 vs 5 vs 8, P < 0.01; 47 vs 7 vs 6, P < 0.01; 51 vs 5 vs 4, P<0.01; 44 vs 9 vs 7, P < 0.01, respectively). An abnormality was seen 33 times with both modalities and 6 times with RTL only. When seen with both modalities, visualization was superior in RTL compared with FDL (29 vs 4, P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There was significant superiority of RTL in all categories of image quality, with slight inter-rater agreement for color fidelity, resolution, and vascularity. RTL was also significantly better for visualization of abnormalities. These findings suggest superior image quality in RTL compared with FDL, but further research is required to determine if this difference is clinically significant.

Telemedicine and the Interdisciplinary Clinic Model: During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond.

The emergence of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the subsequent need for physical distancing have necessitated a swift change in health care delivery. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, many institutions utilized an interdisciplinary clinic model including both a laryngologist and a speech-language pathologist for the evaluation of patients with voice, swallowing, and upper airway disorders. To improve access, many providers are pursuing the use of interdisciplinary telemedicine to provide individualized patient-centered care while allowing for physical distancing. The purpose of this commentary is to review the current literature regarding telemedicine in laryngology and speech-language pathology as well as the current and future states of practice for interdisciplinary tele-evaluations.

The Art of Caring for the Professional Singer.

Training in care of the voice for the general otolaryngologist has improved with the presence of more fellowship-trained laryngologists within academic training programs. However, preparation for caring for the professional singer goes beyond the basic understanding of voice evaluation, laryngeal imaging, and microlaryngeal surgery. The otolaryngologist must have a deeper understanding of the demands, vocabulary, psyche, and economics of the professional singer to provide optimal care. The ramification of recommendations made or procedures undertaken by the otolaryngologist can have serious consequences in a singer's career. This article introduces the otolaryngologist to the specifics of caring for professional singers.

Comparison of Pitch Strength With Perceptual and Other Acoustic Metric Outcome Measures Following Medialization Laryngoplasty.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnoses of voice disorders, as well as treatment outcomes, are often tracked using visual (eg, stroboscopic images), auditory (eg, perceptual ratings), objective (eg, from acoustic or aerodynamic signals), and patient report (eg, Voice Handicap Index and Voice-Related Quality of Life) measures. However, many of these measures are known to have low to moderate sensitivity and specificity for detecting changes in vocal characteristics, including vocal quality. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare changes in estimated pitch strength (PS) with other conventionally used acoustic measures based on the cepstral peak prominence (smoothed cepstral peak prominence, cepstral spectral index of dysphonia, and acoustic voice quality index), and clinical judgments of voice quality (GRBAS [grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, strain] scale) following laryngeal framework surgery. METHODS: This study involved post hoc analysis of recordings from 22 patients pretreatment and post treatment (thyroplasty and behavioral therapy). Sustained vowels and connected speech were analyzed using objective measures (PS, smoothed cepstral peak prominence, cepstral spectral index of dysphonia, and acoustic voice quality index), and these results were compared with mean auditory-perceptual ratings by expert clinicians using the GRBAS scale. RESULTS: All four acoustic measures changed significantly in the direction that usually indicates improved voice quality following treatment (P < 0.005). Grade and breathiness correlated the strongest with the acoustic measures (|r| ~ 0.7) with strain being the least correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Acoustic analysis on running speech highly correlates with judged ratings. PS is a robust, easily obtained acoustic measure of voice quality that could be useful in the clinical environment to follow treatment of voice disorders.

Autoimmune swallowing disorders.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Dysphagia can be the presenting symptom of autoimmune disease. The otolaryngologist should be familiar with and consider these disorders when assessing the patient with swallowing difficulties. RECENT FINDINGS: The present review gives a brief overview of Sjogren's syndrome, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, pemphigus and pemphigoid, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and inflammatory myopathies, and how they affect swallowing. Diagnosis of these diseases is generally based off of clinical presentation, serology, and/or biopsy. Corticosteroids in combination with other immune modulators and symptomatic therapy are the mainstays of treatment. Treatment should be coordinated with a rheumatologist. SUMMARY: The otolaryngologist should be able to recognize when a systemic disease may be the cause of a patient's dysphagia and guide appropriate evaluation. Furthermore, the otolaryngologist can help localize the specific nature of the swallowing problem and guide or provide treatment.

Prospective multi-institutional transnasal esophagoscopy: Predictors of a change in management.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate clinical indications and endoscopic findings for patients undergoing transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, multi-institutional, observational cohort study at four tertiary centers. METHODS: Demographics, reflux finding score, reflux symptom index, Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) scores, clinical indications, and endoscopic findings were compared among patients whose TNE findings resulted in a changes in management (FCIM), defined as a referral, new medication, or surgery recommendation. RESULTS: Of the 329 patients who were enrolled nine (3%) were unable to complete the exam. In an adjusted regression model, male gender and elevated body mass index were significantly predictive of a positive TNE (P =.013-.045); 51% (n = 162/319) had TNE with FCIM. Common FCIM were esophageal stricture (7.5%), irregular Z-line (27.4%), reflux esophagitis (12.8%), and infectious esophagitis (6.3%) (P <.001-.010). Overall, the average EAT-10 was higher for patients with FCIM (9.7 vs. 5.4) than in those without it (P =.014). Patients with a history of head and neck cancer (HNCA) had FCIM 64% of the time, which rose to 81% if they had both HNCA and dysphagia. CONCLUSIONS: In treatment-seeking patients TNE is predictive of a change in management in males and obese patients. In patients with HNCA and dysphagia, TNE is likely to yield findings that cause a change in management. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b. Laryngoscope, 126:2667-2671, 2016.

Dysphagia due to inclusion body myositis: case presentation and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: This report aimed to present a case of inclusion body myositis presenting with dysphagia and to review the literature. METHODS: Case report and literature review. RESULTS: Inclusion body myositis is a chronic progressive acquired myopathy, uniquely distinguished by its selective muscle involvement, normal or moderately elevated muscle enzyme concentrations, and a progressive corticosteroid-resistant course. Compared to other inflammatory myopathies, the esophagus is the most commonly involved organ. Specifically, upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction often occurs. Dysphagia may be the only symptom at the time of presentation. CONCLUSION: Unlike other inflammatory myopathies, dysphagia in inclusion body myositis is steroid resistant. Management can be difficult. The otolaryngologist must consider underlying neuromuscular processes when evaluating the patient presenting with oropharyngeal dysphagia.

The role of laryngoscopy in the diagnosis of spasmodic dysphonia.

IMPORTANCE: Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) can be difficult to diagnose, and patients often see multiple physicians for many years before diagnosis. Improving the speed of diagnosis for individuals with SD may decrease the time to treatment and improve patient quality of life more quickly. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the diagnosis of SD can be accurately predicted through auditory cues alone without the assistance of visual cues offered by laryngoscopic examination. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Single-masked, case-control study at a specialized referral center that included patients who underwent laryngoscopic examination as part of a multidisciplinary workup for dysphonia. Twenty-two patients were selected in total: 10 with SD, 5 with vocal tremor, and 7 controls without SD or vocal tremor. INTERVENTIONS: The laryngoscopic examination was recorded, deidentified, and edited to make 3 media clips for each patient: video alone, audio alone, and combined video and audio. These clips were randomized and presented to 3 fellowship-trained laryngologist raters (A.D.R., A.T.H., and A.M.K.), who established the most probable diagnosis for each clip. Intrarater and interrater reliability were evaluated using repeat clips incorporated in the presentations. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: We measured diagnostic accuracy for video-only, audio-only, and combined multimedia clips. These measures were established before data collection. Data analysis was accomplished with analysis of variance and Tukey honestly significant differences. RESULTS: Of patients with SD, diagnostic accuracy was 10%, 73%, and 73% for video-only, audio-only, and combined, respectively (P < .001, df = 2). Of patients with vocal tremor, diagnostic accuracy was 93%, 73%, and 100% for video-only, audio-only, and combined, respectively (P = .05, df = 2). Of the controls, diagnostic accuracy was 81%, 19%, and 62% for video-only, audio-only, and combined, respectively (P < .001, df = 2). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The diagnosis of SD during examination is based primarily on auditory cues. Viewing combined audio and video clips afforded no change in diagnostic accuracy compared with audio alone. Laryngoscopy serves an important role in the diagnosis of SD by excluding other pathologic causes and identifying vocal tremor.

Spindle cell carcinoma of the larynx presenting as a vocal fold cyst.

Spindle cell carcinoma (SPCC) is a rare, malignant variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which shows biphasic proliferation of the conventional SCC component and malignant spindle shape cells with sarcomatous appearance. We present two cases of SPCC of the true vocal fold that presented as a benign appearing subepithelial mass. We discuss the patient presentation, voice assessment, surgical treatment, and a review of the literature.

Potential for promoting recurrent laryngeal nerve regeneration by remote delivery of viral gene therapy.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The aims of this study were to demonstrate the ability to enhance nerve regeneration by remote delivery of a viral vector to the crushed recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), to demonstrate the usefulness of a crushed RLN model to test the efficacy of viral gene therapy, and to discuss future potential applications of this approach. STUDY DESIGN: Animal study. METHODS: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to two groups. In the experimental group, an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector carrying a zinc-finger transcription factor, which stimulates endogenous insulinlike growth factor I production (AAV2-TO-6876vp16), was injected into the crushed RLN. In the control group, an AAV vector carrying the gene for green fluorescent protein was injected into the crushed RLN. Unilateral RLN paralysis was confirmed endoscopically. At 1 week, laryngeal endoscopies were repeated and recorded. Larynges were cryosectioned in 15-µm sections and processed for acetylcholine histochemistry (motor endplates) followed by neurofilament immunoperoxidase (nerve fibers). Percentage nerve-endplate contact (PEC) was determined and compared. Vocal fold motion was evaluated by blinded reviewers using a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: The difference between PEC on the crushed and uncrushed sides was statistically less in the experimental group (0.54 ± 0.18 vs. 0.30 ± 0.26, P = .0006). The VAS score at 1 week was significantly better in the experimental group (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: AAV2-TO-6876vp16 demonstrated a neurotrophic effect when injected into the crushed RLN. The RLN offers a conduit for viral gene therapy to the brainstem that could be useful for the treatment of RLN injury or bulbar motor neuron disease.

Glottic closure patterns: type I thyroplasty versus type I thyroplasty with arytenoid adduction.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The goal of laryngeal framework surgery in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis is to improve glottic closure by medializing the paralyzed vocal fold. Type I thyroplasty (Th) and arytenoid adduction (AA) are two of the most commonly performed procedures. Two of the main rationales for performing an AA are to improve closure of the posterior glottis and correct vertical height discrepancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if AA with Th yields better posterior glottic closure and vertical height equality than Th alone. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: Using visual analog scales, three blinded reviewers evaluated glottic closure patterns in patients who underwent Th or Th with AA. Pre- and postoperative videostroboscopic examinations of 45 patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis, who underwent laryngeal framework surgery, were evaluated. RESULTS: No significant difference was identified in postoperative scores for midmembranous glottis closure (P=0.282), closure just anterior to the vocal processes (P=0.426), respiratory glottis closure (P=0.158), or vertical height discrepancy (P=0.113). CONCLUSIONS: Although larger glottic gaps and vertical height discrepancies may lead some surgeons to predict that an AA is warranted, the usefulness of AA may not always be related to these parameters. Ultimately, voice improvement and not geometry should guide the surgeon's decision making.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus laryngitis.

Infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have become more prevalent, in part because of the emergence and spread of community-acquired MRSA. This trend is particularly concerning because of the significant rates of morbidity and mortality associated with MRSA infections, and because MRSA strains are often resistant to many classes of antibiotics. Reports of infections of the head and neck, including wound infections, cellulitis, sinusitis, otitis media, and otitis externa, are well documented. However, to our knowledge, there have been no reports of bacterial laryngitis due to MRSA. We report the first published case of bacterial laryngitis caused by MRSA.

The effect of topical anesthesia on vocal fold motion.

The objective of this study was to determine if topical anesthesia to the larynx and pharynx affects vocal fold motion during dynamic voice evaluation with transnasal flexible endoscopy. Transnasal dynamic laryngeal examinations of 10 patients with no voice complaints were evaluated by five blinded fellowship-trained laryngologists. Each patient was examined before and after application of topical anesthetic. Reviewers rated briskness of right and left vocal fold movement and longitudinal tension on a visual analogue scale. Statistical comparisons were made between individual subject scores before and after anesthetic application. Inter-rater reliability was also assessed. No statistical difference was observed between subject scores before and after anesthetic application. Average intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.643 and 0.591 for pre- and postanesthesia scores, respectively. Application of topical anesthesia to the larynx and pharynx does not affect vocal fold motion.

Vocal fold paresis and paralysis: what the thyroid surgeon should know.

The thyroid surgeon must have a thorough understanding of laryngeal neuroanatomy and be able to recognize symptoms of vocal fold paresis and paralysis. Neuropraxia may occur even with excellent surgical technique. Patients should be counseled appropriately, particularly if they are professional voice users. Preoperative or early postoperative changes in voice, swallowing, and airway function should prompt immediate referral to an otolaryngologist. Early recognition and treatment may avoid the development of complications and improve patient quality of life.

Laryngeal electroglottography as a predictor of laryngeal electromyography.

We evaluate a group of patients who have mobile vocal folds, but have flexible laryngeal examinations suspicious for mild vocal fold paresis. The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate if electroglottography (EGG) can predict the probability of having an abnormal laryngeal electromyography (LEMG). Charts of patients evaluated and suspected of having mild vocal fold paresis between August 1, 2004 and March 30, 2006 were reviewed. We compared average EGG contact quotients (CQs), average absolute difference of recorded CQ from normal (|CQ-50%|), and EGG waveforms between patients with normal and abnormal LEMG. Waveforms were evaluated in blinded fashion. Statistical analysis was performed using chi square and t test analyses. One hundred and sixteen patients received both flexible laryngoscopy and LEMG as part of their evaluation. Forty-eight patients (41%) had confirmed paresis by LEMG and 68 patients (59%) had normal LEMGs. Only 9.1% of patients with a normal EGG waveform had an abnormal LEMG. In contrast, 40.4% of patients with an abnormal EGG waveform had abnormal LEMGs. The negative predictive value of a normal EGG waveform for an abnormal LEMG was 90.9%. No significant differences were identified between patients with normal versus abnormal LEMG in terms of average CQ (47.8% vs 46.4%) or |CQ-50%| (6.2 vs 5.6). Patients with a normal EGG waveform are unlikely to have an abnormal LEMG.

Vocal fold paresis and paralysis.

Diagnosis and treatment of the immobile or hypomobile vocal fold are challenging for the otolaryngologist. True paralysis and paresis result from vocal fold denervation secondary to injury to the laryngeal or vagus nerve. Vocal fold paresis or paralysis may be unilateral or bilateral, central or peripheral, and it may involve the recurrent laryngeal nerve, superior laryngeal nerve, or both. The physician's first responsibility in any case of vocal fold paresis or paralysis is to confirm the diagnosis and be certain that the laryngeal motion impairment is not caused by arytenoid cartilage dislocation or subluxation, cricoarytenoid arthritis or ankylosis, neoplasm, or other mechanical causes. Strobovideolaryngoscopy, endoscopy, radiologic and laboratory studies, and electromyography are all useful diagnostic tools.