It's Your House - Come On In.

We are pleased to announce the debut of the House of Delegates Online Testimony page on the TMA website.

Muscle tension dysphonia as a sign of underlying glottal insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Hyperkinetic vocal function (muscle tension dysphonia) may be an indication of underlying glottal insufficiency. In the face of an organic voice disorder such as presbylaryngis or vocal fold paresis. Hyperkinetic laryngeal behaviors may be used to achieve glottal closure. Such compensatory laryngeal behaviors may mask the correct underlying diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the association between vocal fold bowing due to presbylaryngis and abnormal muscle tension patterns (MTPs). METHODS: One hundred consecutive volunteers >40 years old were prospectively evaluated. All underwent a comprehensive head and neck examination that included transnasal fiberoptic laryngoscopy with videostroboscopy. Abnormal MTPs were compared in subjects with and without vocal fold bowing. RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 61 years. Eighty-four percent (42 of 50) of the male subjects and 60% (30 of 50) of female subjects had evidence of vocal fold bowing. Of the 72 patients with bowing, 94% (68 of 72) had abnormal MTPs. Compared with subjects without vocal fold bowing, persons with bowing were 17 times more likely to exhibit abnormal MTPs (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal MTPs are common in persons with underlying glottal insufficiency. Patients with vocal fold bowing are 17 times more likely to exhibit abnormal MTPs (95% confidence interval, 4.9 to 59.4). Clinicians should be aware that compensatory hyperkinetic laryngeal behaviors may mask an underlying organic condition.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux and laryngeal web formation in patients with pediatric recurrent respiratory papillomas.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux reduces the laryngeal soft tissue complications encountered in surgery for recurrent respiratory papillomas. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all pediatric patients treated for laryngeal recurrent respiratory papillomas between 1984 and 1999 was performed. Thirty-one such patients were identified. Twenty-four were at "high risk" for developing complications based on the number of operating suite visits and the presence of disease at the anterior commissure. Twelve patients underwent 24-hour double pH probe testing. RESULTS: Overall, 13 of 31 patients (42%) developed laryngeal webs. No other soft tissue complications were encountered. Of the patients who had pH probe testing, 12 of 12 (100%) had at least one pharyngeal episode of acid exposure. Of the "high-risk" patients, 10 were treated for reflux and only 2 of 10 (20%) developed webs. Eleven of 14 (79%) of the "high-risk" patients who were not treated for reflux developed webs. The difference in rate of web formation between patients treated for reflux and those not treated for reflux was statistically significant (P =.011). CONCLUSIONS: Antireflux treatments for patients undergoing surgery for laryngeal recurrent respiratory papillomas may reduce the soft tissue complications, especially scarring and web formation. Prophylactic antireflux therapy may be warranted in any patient undergoing surgery during which laryngeal mucosal disruption is anticipated.

Combined intraoral and lateral temporal approach for palatal malignancies with temporalis muscle reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of a combined lateral temporal fossa and intraoral approach to resect palatal carcinomas and the use of a temporalis myofascial flap for reconstruction. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of a case series. SETTING: Tertiary university referral hospital. PATIENTS: Sixteen patients underwent a combined approach for resection of palatal carcinoma; 5 of the 16 were edentulous. Six types of tumors were treated: adenoid cystic carcinoma (3 patients), low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma (5 patients), squamous cell carcinoma (3 patients), polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (2 patients), osteosarcoma (1 patient), ameloblastoma (1 patient), and hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma (1 patient). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The postoperative diet, velum competence, flap viability, complications, and survival. RESULTS: Fifteen (94%) of 16 patients were able to resume their preoperative diets. No velopharyngeal insufficiency was encountered. All flaps survived and none required repeated surgical intervention. Five patients developed serous otitis media and 2 patients required flap revision secondary to posterior choanal obstruction. One patient died of complications unrelated to the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: A combined intraoral and lateral temporal fossa approach allows for (1) en bloc resection of palatal malignancies along with resection of involved pterygoid muscles, (2) isolation and resection of descending palatine nerves and the proximal second division of the trigeminal nerve, and (3) primary reconstruction of the palatal defect by means of the temporalis muscle rotated into the operative defect. This method is especially useful in treating patients with perineural spread of palatal carcinoma, and in those who are edentulous.