Characteristics of Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis in the Elderly.

OBJECTIVE: To compare characteristics of patients ≥65 years presenting with idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) to patients diagnosed at <65 years. We hypothesize that the groups have similar comorbidities and disease courses. DATA SOURCES: Medical records of patients treated for iSGS at a tertiary care institution from January 2005-September 2022. REVIEW METHODS: Patient demographics, time from symptom onset to diagnosis, medical history and comorbidities, and treatment modalities/intervals were recorded and analyzed. Characteristics of patients ≥65 and <65 years at presentation were compared using Chi-square analysis for non-numeric values and the Mann-Whitney U-test for numeric values. RESULTS: One hundred seven patients with iSGS were identified and 16 (15%) were aged ≥65 years (mean age 72.6, 15 female) at presentation. These patients were compared to 91 patients aged <65 years (mean age = 47.6, 90 female). Patients ≥65 years had higher rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (p = 0.004) and tobacco use (p = 0.004). There were no significant differences in body mass index, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hormone replacement therapy, time from symptom onset to presentation, or length of operative treatment intervals. CONCLUSION: Patients ≥65 years with iSGS have higher rates of tobacco use, suggesting that alterations in wound healing may play a role in the development of iSGS in this age group. Although rates of T2DM were higher in the elderly group, clinical significance may be limited given the overall higher rate of diabetes mellitus in the elderly population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 133:3075-3079, 2023.

Association of Genre of Singing and Phonotraumatic Vocal Fold Lesions in Singers.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine if (1) the likelihood of presenting with phonotraumatic lesions differs by singing genre in treatment-seeking singers and (2) if the distribution of phonotraumatic lesion types differs by singing genre. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. METHODS: Records of singers who presented with a voice complaint over the course of 2.5 years (June 2017-December 2019) were reviewed to determine the proportion of those with phonotraumatic lesions as a function of genre (Study 1). Separately, the lesion types and genres of singers diagnosed with phonotraumatic lesions over a 9-year period (July 2011-March 2020) were determined (Study 2). RESULTS: In Study 1, 191 of 712 (26.8%) dysphonic singers were diagnosed with phonotraumatic lesions. Country/folk, gospel/jazz, and musical theater singers were more likely to present with phonotraumatic lesions. In Study 2, in 443 singers with phonotraumatic lesions, polyps and pseudocysts, but not nodules, were found to be distributed unequally across genres (χ2 p = 0.006, p < 0.0001, p = 0.064, respectively). Praise/worship singers had significantly higher proportions of polyps compared to choral singers (OR 4.8 [95% CI 1.9-12.5]) or compared to musical theater singers (OR 7.2 [95% CI 2.5-20.8]). Opera singers had significantly higher proportions of pseudocysts than choral singers (OR 3.1 [95% CI 1.5-6.1]) or musical theater singers (OR 3.7 [95% CI 1.8-7.6]). CONCLUSIONS: The higher incidence of polyps in praise/worship singers likely reflects the more emphatic nature of singing and the tendency for acute injury. The higher incidence of pseudocysts in opera singers may reflect a more chronic nature of injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 133:1683-1689, 2023.

Voice Therapy Expectations for Injured Singers.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Voice therapy is a mainstay treatment modality in the management of phonotrauma in singers. However, the typical duration of therapy an injured singer undergoes is unknown. The primary aims of the study were to determine (1) the number of therapy sessions preceding a decision for surgery and (2) the number of sessions and length of time to achieve improvement in singers who did not undergo surgery. Whether specific singer factors were associated with the length of therapy was also investigated. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: Records of singers with phonotraumatic vocal fold lesions seen over a 9-year period at a tertiary care voice center were reviewed. RESULTS: Sixty singers who underwent surgery and 183 singers who did not undergo surgery were included in the final analysis. In nearly ¾ of the surgical patients, five or fewer voice therapy sessions were completed prior to the decision for surgery. Singers who did not undergo surgery required on average 3-4 sessions before noting improvement. Over 60% of the non-surgical singers improved within 3 months and 84% were judged to be improved by 6 months. Lesion type, professional/amateur status, formal voice training, and having a current voice teacher/coach were not associated with the length of voice therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The length of voice therapy prior to decision for surgery was limited, and so was the length of therapy leading to initial improvement in singers who did not require surgery. These findings provide a framework for voice therapy expectations and could be reassuring for this unique population.

Profile of Injured Singers: Expectations and Insights.

OBJECTIVES: To discover patterns of phonotraumatic lesions in singers and investigate factors that differentiate those who underwent surgery from those who did not. We hypothesized that 1) lesion type distribution differs by age, sex, singer classification (professional/amateur), and history of formal voice training; 2) the likelihood of surgery is associated with singer classification and voice training. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: Retrospective review of 438 singers with phonotraumatic lesions over a 9-year period. Lesion type distribution was analyzed with respect to sex, age, singer classification, and voice training. The association of eventual surgery with these factors was also analyzed. RESULTS: Nodules accounted for over half of the cohort (58%), followed by pseudocysts (20%), polyps (14%), and cysts (4%). Nearly two of every three injured female singers, but fewer than one out of every three injured male singers, had nodules. In contrast, over half of the injured males had polyps, whereas only 6% of injured females had polyps. In females, polyps occurred at a later age, and in males, nodules occurred at a younger age compared to other lesion types. Only 14% of the total cohort eventually underwent surgery. Professional singers without formal voice training were almost eight times more likely to have undergone surgery than amateur singers with voice training. CONCLUSIONS: Professional singers were more likely to undergo surgery than amateurs, and formal voice training was associated with a lower likelihood of surgery. The observation that polyps tended to occur in older women may have implications for the pathogenesis of vocal fold polyps. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 132:2180-2186, 2022.

Combining Voice Rest and Steroids to Improve Diagnostic Clarity in Phonotraumatic Vocal Fold Injury.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To describe a combination voice rest and steroid regimen to clarify ambiguous diagnoses in singers who present with phonotraumatic lesions and (2) to determine which videostroboscopic parameters show the most consistent response to this regimen. STUDY DESIGN: Chart review. METHODS: Singers with phonotraumatic vocal fold lesions seen at a tertiary care voice center over a 10-year period were identified. Those who had uncertain diagnoses on initial presentation, completed a combination regimen including voice rest and steroids, and had follow-up examinations were included in the analysis. The effect of this combination regimen was assessed by ratings of pre- and postregimen videostroboscopy examinations and by auditory perceptual ratings. Whether the combination regimen clarified the diagnosis was noted. RESULTS: Twenty-nine singers were prescribed the combination regimen with the intent to clarify the diagnosis. In 79% (23/29) of these singers, the regimen helped clarify diagnosis, for example, ruling in or ruling out specific lesions, confirming areas of scar, or distinguishing acute from chronic phonotraumatic injury. Stroboscopic exams were improved in 86% (25/29). The most common stroboscopic finding was a reduction in the lesion size (66%). Auditory perceptual ratings improved in 48% (14/29) of patients. CONCLUSIONS: A "cool down" combination of voice rest and steroids can improve diagnostic clarity in a subset of singers with phonotraumatic lesions. This combination regimen can be considered, with both the side effect profile of steroids and possible financial ramifications of strict voice rest in mind, when the initial diagnosis is unclear.

Immediate and partial neural dysfunction after thyroid and parathyroid surgery: Need for recognition, laryngeal exam, and early treatment.

BACKGROUND: Laryngeal dysfunction after thyroid and parathyroid surgery requires early recognition and a standardized approach for patients that present with voice, swallowing, and breathing issues. The Endocrine Committee of the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) convened a panel to define the terms "immediate vocal fold paralysis" and "partial neural dysfunction" and to provide clinical consensus statements based on review of the literature, integrated with expert opinion of the group. METHODS: A multidisciplinary expert panel constructed the manuscript and recommendations for laryngeal dysfunction after thyroid and parathyroid surgery. A meta-analysis was performed using the literature and published guidelines. Consensus was achieved using polling and a modified Delphi approach. RESULTS: Twenty-two panelists achieved consensus on five statements regarding the role of early identification and standardization of evaluation for patients with "immediate vocal fold paralysis" and "partial neural dysfunction" after thyroid and parathyroid surgery. CONCLUSION: After endorsement by the AHNS Endocrine Section and Quality of Care Committee, it received final approval from the AHNS Council.

The natural history of recoverable vocal fold paralysis: Implications for kinetics of reinnervation.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) are commonly told to wait 12 months for spontaneous recovery. This study aims to 1) determine the time to vocal recovery in UVFP, 2) use that data to develop a neurophysiologically plausible model for recovery, and 3) use the model to generate meaningful predictions for patient counseling. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with de novo mathematical modeling. METHODS: Patients with UVFP who could pinpoint a discrete onset of vocal improvement were identified. The time-to-recovery data were modeled by assuming an "early" recovery group with neuropraxia and a "late" recovery group with more severe nerve injury. For the late group, a two-stage model was developed to explain the time to recovery: regenerating axons must cross the site of injury in stage 1 (probabilistic), followed by unimpeded regrowth to the larynx in stage 2 (deterministic). RESULTS: Of 727 cases of UVFP over a 7-year period, 44 reported spontaneous recovery with a discrete onset of vocal improvement. A hybrid distribution incorporating the two stages (exponentially modified Gaussian) accurately modeled the time-to-recovery data (R2 = 0.918). The model predicts 86% of patients with recoverable UVFP will recover within 6 months, with 96% recovering within 9 months. Earlier vocal recovery is associated with recovery of vocal fold motion and younger age. CONCLUSIONS: Waiting 12 months for spontaneous recovery is probably too conservative. Repair across the site of injury, and not regrowth to larynx, is likely the rate-determining step in reinnervation, consistent with other works on peripheral nerve regeneration. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. Laryngoscope, 127:2585-2590, 2017.

Relationship between patient-perceived vocal handicap and clinician-rated level of vocal dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The relationship between patient-reported vocal handicap and clinician-rated measures of vocal dysfunction is not understood. This study aimed to determine if a correlation exists between the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) and the Voice Functional Communication Measure rating in the National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Four hundred and nine voice evaluations over 12 months at a tertiary voice center were reviewed. The VHI-10 and NOMS scores, diagnoses, and potential comorbid factors were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: For the study population as a whole, there was a moderate negative correlation between the NOMS rating and the VHI-10 (Pearson r = -0.57). However, for a given NOMS level, there could be considerable spread in the VHI-10. In addition, as the NOMS decreased stepwise below level 4, there was a corresponding increase in the VHI-10. However, a similar trend in VHI-10 was not observed for NOMS above level 4, indicating the NOMS versus VHI-10 correlation was not linear. Among diagnostic groups, the strongest correlation was found for subjects with functional dysphonia. The NOMS versus VHI-10 correlation was not affected by gender or the coexistence of a psychiatric diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: A simple relationship between VHI-10 and NOMS rating does not exist. Patients with mild vocal dysfunction have a less direct relationship between their NOMS ratings and the VHI-10. These findings provide insight into the interpretation of patient-perceived and clinician-rated measures of vocal function and may allow for better management of expectations and patient counseling in the treatment of voice disorders.

Laryngeal manifestations of relapsing polychondritis and a novel treatment option.

OBJECTIVES: Laryngotracheal involvement in relapsing polychondritis (RP) is rare. However, it is one of the most common causes of death in this patient population. We present three patients who primarily presented with laryngeal manifestations of RP and a novel treatment option for bamboo nodules. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review and comprehensive review of the literature. RESULTS: Two patients first presented to an otolaryngologist because of hoarseness and chronic cough that eventually progressed to dyspnea upon exertion. Laryngeal examination revealed subglottic stenoses. Upon rheumatologic workup both were diagnosed with RP. After treatment with steroids and immunosuppressive drugs, one of the patient's laryngeal symptoms improved, whereas the other required dilation procedures. Neither patient had classic auricular or nasal symptoms upon initial presentation. The third patient was being treated for spasmodic dysphonia and was noted to have bamboo nodules with accompanying dysphonia. Rheumatologic workup revealed RP and systemic treatment ensued. Unfortunately, her symptoms of hoarseness persisted despite systemic treatment. A pulsed-potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser was applied to the bilateral bamboo nodules, which eventually caused resolution of her vocal fold lesions and dysphonia. CONCLUSIONS: We present three patients with RP, all of whom sought health care by an otolaryngologist primarily. Awareness of this disease entity and the possibility for early laryngeal involvement is crucial for proper care of those with this life-threatening disease.

Laryngeal electromyography for prognosis of vocal fold palsy: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To analyze existing evidence regarding utility of laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) for prognosis in cases of vocal fold palsy (VFP). STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analysis of studies reporting LEMG results and clinical outcomes in 503 patients with of VFP identified by literature search. METHODS: Studies were identified by literature search. Method of diagnosis, interval to LEMG, criteria for prognostication, and outcome were assessed. Criteria for prognosis were standardized to the extent possible across all studies, and studies were checked for consistency in outcome measures and assessments. Pooled data were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 296/503 patients (58.8%) had findings predictive with poor prognosis, whereas 207/503 (41.2%) had findings of recovery. According to laryngoscopic examination, 269/296 patients with predicted poor recovery had poor recovery (positive predictive value=90.9%), whereas 27/296 (9.1%) had good recovery. In patients with findings consistent with recovery, 115/207 (negative predictive value=55.6%) noted return of motion, whereas 88/207 (44.4%) did not. The odds ratio was 11.56 with 95% confidence interval of 7.10-18.81. CONCLUSIONS: LEMG is a good predictor of poor recovery in patients with VFP and is clinically useful in identifying candidates for early definitive intervention.