Solitary Bone Plasmacytoma of the Skull Base With an Unusual Presentation.

Solitary bone plasmacytoma (SBP) is a rare hematological malignancy that usually occurs in the spine and rarely in the skull. It rarely presents in the skull base, but presenting symptoms are associated with cranial nerve involvement depending on the site of the disease. We present the case of a 61-year-old man with an unusual presentation of hoarseness secondary to vocal fold palsy. Imaging showed a large bony lesion in the temporo-occipital region with involvement of the jugular foramen. Further detailed diagnostic procedures confirmed SBP of the skull base. Radiotherapy was given with an uneventful recovery of vocal fold function. Skull base plasmacytoma can be considered as a differential diagnosis of causes of unilateral vocal fold palsy. Early therapeutic management may improve vocal fold function.

Post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the descending aorta.

High-energy deceleration injuries of the thoracic aorta are associated with high mortality. But among long term survivors, just 2 %-5 % of traumatic aortic injuries fail initial detection and are discovered later (Pozek et al., 2012 [1]). We present a rare case of pseudoaneurysm of the descending aorta in a female with a history of chest blunt trauma 45 days before who presented with chronic severe cough and vocal hoarseness that was treated with endovascular intervention in our center.

Noninvasive Management of Voice Disorders: An Umbrella Review.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess published systematic reviews that discussed noninvasive management of voice disorders. An umbrella review was conducted to collect, organize, and summarize narratively all available pharmacologic and voice therapy interventions. STUDY DESIGN: Umbrella review of systematic reviews. METHODS: Pertinent systematic reviews were identified by searching Pubmed/Medline and Embase. A primary screen identified studies related to voice. The second round of screening focused on studies that involved noninvasive management of voice disorders such as pharmacologic or voice therapy interventions. Variables of interest included study design, number of studies included in the review, target population, method of intervention, and outcomes. RESULTS: Forty-three systematic reviews were eligible and included in the umbrella review. Ten studies focused on pharmacologic interventions, and 33 studies focused on voice therapy. Individual studies included in the systematic reviews ranged from 2-47, with a total of 601 studies overall. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a detailed review of all available systematic reviews on noninvasive management of voice disorders. Explored medications included proton pump inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, antibiotics, corticosteroids, and hormone replacement. Explored voice therapy techniques included hydration, vocal function exercises, laryngeal manual therapy, respiratory exercise, biofeedback, phonation, coping strategies, and others. This may be utilized to guide therapeutic decision-making and identify current gaps in the literature that may warrant future investigation.

A Plasmacytoma of the Lateral Pharyngeal Wall: A Diagnostic Enigma.

Plasmacytoma is a rare plasma cell dyscrasia that grows in bones or soft tissues such as the pharynx. Soft tissue plasmacytomas are rare, and a higher burden has been reported in the upper aero-digestive tract, often manifesting as hoarseness, dysphagia, or odynophagia. Due to their rarity, extramedullary plasmacytomas (EMPs) have unknown prognostic factors, and guidelines for optimal management are still lacking. However, radiation therapy and surgery have been used with positive outcomes. Herein, we describe a unique case of plasmacytoma of the pharyngeal tissue in a male patient with a history of HIV disease. The patient completed 28 sessions of radiation therapy, resulting in an improvement in his throat pain and hoarseness. Given the patient's age and lack of traditional risk factors for head and neck cancers, his hoarseness and odynophagia proved to be a diagnostic conundrum. Although infrequent, soft tissue plasmacytomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of head and neck tumors.

Flurbiprofen in the subglottic space to prevent postoperative sore throat after cardiac surgery: A randomized double-blind study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Postoperative sore throat (POST) and hoarseness are common complications of tracheal intubation. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of flurbiprofen administered through the subglottic port of tracheal tubes to prevent POST after cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Tertiary Care Referral University Hospital (Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome). PATIENTS: Included 71 patients undergoing for elective cardiac surgery. Inclusion criteria were (a) age between 50 and 75 years, (b) NYHA class I or II, (c) surgery for myocardial revascularization or valve repair or replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass. INTERVENTION: Patients were double blind randomized to receive flurbiprofen or saline in the subglottic port of the endotracheal tube (groups F and P). The solution was injected ten minutes after tracheal tube placement, ten minutes after ICU admission and ten minutes before tracheal tube removal. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was to assess the effect of topical flurbiprofen administered through the subglottic port of the tracheal tube to prevent post-operative sore throat (POST). The secondary outcomes were the presence of hoarseness safety and patient's subjective satisfaction with their recovery. We did not report any exploratory outcomes. MAIN RESULTS: We analyzed 68 patients, 34 patients in each group. In group F, two patients complained of POST and hoarseness (5.9%), while all controls did. The two groups significantly differed in the severity scores (VAS and TPS for sore throat and HOAR for hoarseness) at all time points. In group P, patients reported mild to moderate symptoms that significantly improved or disappeared 36 h after tracheal tube removal. According to the multivariable model, hoarseness affected women less than men, in the control group (p = 0.002). None of the patients in either group reported any adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated administration of flurbiprofen through the subglottic port of tracheal tubes reduced the incidence of sore throat and hoarseness after cardiac surgery without evidence of complications.

Patients' Demographics and Risk Factors in Voice Disorders: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the systematic reviews that focus on the prevalence of voice disorders (VDs), associated risk factors, and the demographic characteristics of patients with dysphonia. An umbrella review was conducted to identify general research themes in voice literature that might guide future research initiatives and contribute to the classification of VDs as a worldwide health concern. STUDY DESIGN: Umbrella review of systematic reviews. METHODS: Pubmed/Medline and Embase were searched for eligible systematic reviews by two authors independently. Extracted data items included the study publication details, study design, characteristics of the target population, sample size, region/country, and incidence and/or prevalence of the VD(s) of interest. RESULTS: Forty systematic reviews were included. Sixteen reported a meta-analysis. Great heterogeneity in methods was found. A total of 277,035 patients across the included studies were included with a prevalence ranging from 0%-90%. The countries represented best were the United States and Brazil, with 13 studies each. Aging, occupational voice use, lifestyle choices, and specific comorbidities, such as obesity or hormonal disorders, seem to be associated with an increased prevalence of dysphonia. CONCLUSIONS: This review underscores the influence of VDs on distinct patient groups and the general population. A variety of modifiable or non-modifiable risk factors, having varied degrees of impact on voice qualities, have been identified. The overall effect of VDs is probably underestimated due to factors, such as sample size, patient selection, underreporting of symptoms, and asymptomatic cases. Employing systematic reviews with consistent methodologies and criteria for diagnosing VDs would enhance the ability to determine the prevalence of VDs and their impact.

Voice Disorders Among Teachers in Taif City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Background Voice disorders (VD) pose significant challenges for teachers as they impact their professional and personal lives. Teaching requires extensive use of the voice, making teachers particularly susceptible to vocal health issues. VD can hinder the quality of education. Objectives This study aimed to comprehensively explore the prevalence, associated factors, and impact of VD among teachers and their health-seeking behavior regarding VD. Methodology A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Taif City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), between November and December 2023. The data were collected through a questionnaire covering demographic variables, occupational factors, voice-related symptoms, associated health conditions, and the impact of VD. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics version 26 (IBM Corp. Released 2019. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.), and chi-squared tests were used to assess associations. Results The study involved 568 teachers, 61.8% of whom had VD. The study identified significant associations between VD and demographic characteristics, habits, and teaching-related variables. Age, gender, teaching subject, class size, and weekly teaching load were associated with the prevalence of VD. Hoarseness, throat pain, and throat dryness were prevalent symptoms among teachers with VD. The impact of VD on teachers was evident, with a considerable proportion reporting work absenteeism (28.7%) and even contemplating retirement due to voice problems (6.3%). Conclusion This study offers a nuanced understanding of VD among teachers in the Taif region, emphasizing the complex interplay of demographic, symptomatic, and behavioral factors. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, including awareness campaigns, preventive strategies, and streamlined healthcare access, to address the unique challenges that different subgroups of teachers face. Future research should further explore longitudinal trajectories and objective measures to enhance our understanding of VD in educational settings.

Laryngeal Mycosis in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report.

Laryngeal mycosis, a condition often overlooked in systemically immunocompetent individuals, requires heightened clinical vigilance for accurate diagnosis. The disease mimics symptoms of other laryngeal conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux, granulomatous disease, keratosis, and glottic malignancies, with risk factors including prolonged use of antibiotics, inhaled steroids, and smoking. Clinically, it presents with variable symptoms including hoarseness, and occasionally pain, dysphagia, and odynophagia. Diagnosis involves the observation of hyperkeratosis, notably when intraepithelial neutrophils are present, prompting further investigation for fungal elements through specialized staining. Effective management encompasses prolonged systemic antifungal treatment and the elimination of predisposing factors to prevent recurrence or treatment failure. Despite its potential to mimic a range of laryngeal diseases, laryngeal mycosis remains a less considered differential diagnosis. This is compounded by the commonality of risk factors in the general population, including prolonged antibiotic use, inhaled steroid therapy, and smoking habits, which may predispose individuals to fungal infections of the larynx. Furthermore, the necessity for a high index of suspicion and specialized diagnostic techniques, such as the identification of hyperkeratosis with intraepithelial neutrophils through biopsy and specialized staining for fungal elements, underscores the complexity of diagnosing this condition. The rationale for documenting this case report is multifaceted, primarily focusing on the fact that laryngeal mycosis is rare among immunocompetent patients leading to under-recognition of laryngeal mycosis in systemically immunocompetent individuals and the diagnostic challenges it presents. Additionally, the documentation seeks to emphasize the critical need for comprehensive treatment approaches, including prolonged systemic antifungal therapy and the identification and elimination of predisposing factors, to ensure effective management and prevent recurrence.

A Cross-sectional Study on the Aetiology and Predisposing Factors of Hoarseness of Voice.

The primary objective of the study was to find out the aetiology of hoarseness and analyse people with hoarseness based on socio-demographic profile like age, gender, occupation and socio-economic status. Secondary objective was to find out the predisposing factors of hoarseness and to see their association between benign and malignant causes of hoarseness. The study was conducted for a period of one and half years in 178 patients who were above the age of 18 years of age and presented with hoarseness lasting for more than 2 weeks to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology. After obtaining a written informed consent, history was taken using a structured proforma and a proper clinical examination was done including indirect laryngoscopy. Nasopharyngolarygoscopy was done where indirect laryngoscopy was difficult. In a sample of 178 patients with hoarseness, 159 patients had structural lesions and 19 patients had movement disorders. Of the structural lesions, 86 patients were due to malignancy, 64 due to non-neoplastic causes, and 9 were due to premalignant causes. The most common malignant cause for hoarseness was Malignancy glottis, which had a male predilection. Smoking and alcoholism were found to be the main predisposing factors. The most common non neoplastic cause were vocal cord nodule and vocal cord polyp. The main predisposing factor was vocal abuse and was seen mostly in females. Vocal cord palsy was found to be the most common movement disorder. Hoarseness as a symptom if taken lightly can lead to serious consequences. Therefore it is important to avoid predisposing factors like smoking, alcoholism and also to educate the people regarding the proper use of voice.

The Effect of Topical Benzydamine Hydrochloride and Cuff Pressure Monitorization on Postoperative Sore Throat Due to Intubation.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative sore throat (POST) is the most common discomfort after endotracheal intubation. Damage to the tracheal mucosa caused by inappropriate endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure has been shown as the major factor. Monitoring the ETT cuff pressure at a certain value reduces this damage. Benzydamine hydrochloride (BH) has proven to be effective on sore throat and studies have shown that it is also effective on POST. In this study, the efficacy of BH and ETT cuff pressure monitoring on POST was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After ethics committee approval 210 patients in the ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) I-III risk group undergoing elective surgery were included in the study. Routine anesthesia monitoring, induction, and maintenance were provided. Patients were randomly divided into three groups. Thirty minutes before surgery, the posterior pharyngeal wall was sprayed with BH in group 1 and distilled water in groups 2 and 3. Intraoperatively, the first and second groups were monitored to keep the ETT cuff pressure between 22 and 26 cmH2O, while no intervention was performed in the third group. The incidence and severity of postoperative dysphagia, hoarseness, and POST were questioned. RESULTS: There was no difference between demographic data, and gender was not associated with POST. There was a statistically significant difference between the first and second groups and the third group in terms of all three symptoms questioned (p<0.01). No difference was observed between the first and second groups. Side effect rates were similar. Smoking was not found to be associated with symptoms. CONCLUSION: The incidence and severity of POST, dysphagia, and hoarseness are reduced when the ETT cuff is inflated with a pressure of 22-26 cmH2O after intubation with a manometer and maintained at this pressure range throughout the operation. There was no beneficial effect of BH.

An Unusual Case of Hoarseness of Voice and Dysphagia in Multiple Myeloma with Amyloidosis.

How to cite this article: Dash S, Pandalanghat S, Kumar Y. An Unusual Case of Hoarseness of Voice and Dysphagia in Multiple Myeloma with Amyloidosis. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(2):175-176.

Exploring Skull Base Osteomyelitis: Comprehensive Case Reports and Management Strategies.

Skull base osteomyelitis is a not commonly encountered but potentially fatal consequence of untreated necrotizing otitis externa. Early recognition and appropriate treatment are crucial to prevent serious complications such as cranial nerve palsies, meningitis, and intracranial abscess formation. The case reports presented in this study provide a rich depiction of the clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and interventions employed. Early recognition and appropriate management of skull base osteomyelitis are crucial to prevent complications and improve patient outcomes.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Supraglottis Presenting as Hoarseness.

Hoarseness is a well-known condition in primary care offices, with over 1% of primary care visits secondary to this ailment.1 The most common causes are acute laryngitis (40%), functional dysphonia (30%), benign and malignant tumors (2.2 to 30%), neurogenic factors such as vocal cord paralysis (8%), physiological aging (2%), and psychogenic factors (2.2%). Most of these cases are secondary to viral infections and do not require antibiotics on most occasions. These viral infections subside after 1 to 2 weeks, and in the case of persistent hoarseness (above 4 weeks) the American Academy of Otolaryngology recommends direct visualization with a laryngoscopy before treatment with proton pump inhibitors, antibiotics, or steroids. Our patient presented with prolonged hoarseness (greater than eight weeks) but had a quick turn around time interval between primary care visit and laryngoscopy evaluation (less than 2 weeks). This led to her diagnosis and treatment with chemo and radiation therapy within three months of diagnosis with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Supraglottis. The Primary care physician serves as the number one point of visitation by sufferers of hoarseness. It is important that they are knowledgeable and up to date with recommendations and guidelines for managing this condition, as unwarranted delay can affect overall outcome on the part of the patient. This is especially important in patients such as ours with high risk factors including Nicotine dependence, alcohol use, asbestos exposure, and HPV infection.

La voix rauque est une condition bien connue dans les cabinets de soins primaires, avec plus de 1 % des visites en soins primaires dues à ce problème. Les causes les plus courantes sont la laryngite aiguë (40%), la dysphonie fonctionnelle (30 %), les tumeurs bénignes et malignes (2,2 à 30 %), les facteurs neurogènes tels que la paralysie des cordes vocales (8 %), le vieillissement physiologique (2 %) et les facteurs psychogènes (2,2 %). La plupart de ces cas sont dus à des infections virales et ne nécessitent pas d'antibiotiques dans la plupart des cas. Ces infections virales disparaissent après 1 à 2 semaines, et en cas de voix rauque persistante (plus de 4 semaines), l'American Academy of Otolaryngology recommande une visualisation directe avec une laryngoscopie avant le traitement par inhibiteurs de la pompe à protons, antibiotiques ou stéroïdes. Notre patiente présentait une voix rauque prolongée (plus de huit semaines), mais a bénéficié d'un délai rapide entre la visite en soins primaires et l'évaluation par laryngoscopie (moins de 2 semaines). Cela a conduit à son diagnostic et à son traitement par chimiothérapie et radiothérapie dans les trois mois suivant le diagnostic de carcinome épidermoïde du supraglotte. Le médecin de soins primaires est le premier point de visite pour les personnes souffrant de voix rauque. Il est important qu'ils soient informés et à jour des recommandations et des lignes directrices pour la prise en charge de cette condition, car un retard non justifié peut affecter le résultat global pour le patient. Ceci est particulièrement important chez les patients comme le nôtre présentant des facteurs de risque élevés, y compris la dépendance à la nicotine, la consommation d'alcool, l'exposition à l'amiante. MOTS-CLÉS: Laryngoscopie, Supraglotte, Larynx, Enrouement.

Ortner's syndrome secondary to a thoracic thrombosed aortic aneurysm: Case report.

Ortner's syndrome refers to vocal cord paralysis resulting from compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve by abnormal mediastinal vascular structures. We present a case of an 89-year-old man who was an active smoker, with a clinical history of hypertension, who presented hoarseness of voice with chronic evolution. Neck and Thoracoabdominal CT angiography was performed revealing a thrombosed aneurysm of the aortic arch.

Preemptive strategies and lessons learned from complications encountered with microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm.

OBJECTIVE: Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the only curative treatment modality for hemifacial spasm (HFS). Although generally considered to be safe, this surgical procedure is surrounded by many risks and possible complications. The authors present the spectrum of complications that they met in their case series, the possible causes, and the strategies recommended to minimize them. METHODS: The authors reviewed a prospectively maintained database for MVDs performed from 2005 until 2021 and extracted relevant data including patient demographics, offending vessel(s), operative technique, outcome, and different complications. Descriptive statistics with uni- and multivariable analyses for the factors that may influence the seventh, eighth, and lower cranial nerves were performed. RESULTS: Data from 420 patients were obtained. Three hundred seventeen of 344 patients (92.2%) with a minimum follow-up of 12 months had a favorable outcome. The mean follow-up (standard deviation) was 51.3 ± 38.7 months. Immediate complications reached 18.8% (79/420). Complications persisted in only 7.14% of patients (30/420) including persistent hearing deficits (5.95%) and residual facial palsy (0.95%). Temporary complications included CSF leakage (3.10%), lower cranial nerve deficits (3.57%), meningitis (0.71%), and brainstem ischemia (0.24%). One patient died because of herpes encephalitis. Statistical analyses showed that the immediate postoperative disappearance of spasms and male gender are correlated with postoperative facial palsy, whereas combined vessel compressions involving the vertebral artery (VA) and anterior inferior cerebellar artery can predict postoperative hearing deterioration. VA compressions could predict postoperative lower cranial nerve deficits. CONCLUSIONS: MVD is safe and effective for treating HFS with a low rate of permanent morbidity. Proper patient positioning, sharp arachnoid dissection, and endoscopic visualization under facial and auditory neurophysiological monitoring are the key points to minimize the rate of complications in MVD for HFS.

The impact of a speaker's voice quality on auditory perception and cognition: a behavioral and subjective approach.

Introduction: Our voice is key for conveying information and knowledge to others during verbal communication. However, those who heavily depend on their voice, such as teachers and university professors, often develop voice problems, signaled by hoarseness. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hoarseness on listeners' memory for auditory-verbal information, listening effort, and listening impression. Methods: Forty-eight normally hearing adults performed two memory tasks that were auditorily presented in varied voice quality (typical vs. hoarse). The tasks were Heard Text Recall, as part of a dual-task paradigm, and auditory Verbal Serial Recall (aVSR). Participants also completed a listening impression questionnaire for both voice qualities. Behavioral measures of memory for auditory-verbal information and listening effort were performance and response time. Subjective measures of listening effort and other aspects of listening impression were questionnaire rating scores. Results: Results showed that, except for the aVSR, behavioral outcomes did not vary with the speaker's voice quality. Regarding the aVSR, we found a significant interaction between voice quality and trial, indicating that participants' recall performance dropped in the beginning of the task in the hoarse-voice condition but not in the typical-voice condition, and then increased again toward the end. Results from the listening impression questionnaire showed that listening to the hoarse voice resulted in significantly increased perceived listening effort, greater annoyance and poorer self-reported performance. Discussion: These findings suggest that hoarseness can, at least subjectively, compromise effective listening. Vocal health may be particularly important in the educational context, where listening and learning are closely linked.

[Pediatric supraglottic laryngeal hamartoma: a case report and literature review].

Laryngeal hamartoma is a benign proliferative tumor-like lesion that occurs in the larynx. A case of supraglotic laryngeal hamartoma admitted by our department and 12 cases of laryngeal hamartoma reported in literature were retrospectively analyzed, the pathogenesis, clinicalmanifestation, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of laryngeal hamartoma was explored, aiming to improve the understanding and diagnosis and treatment.of this disease.

Normative Values for the Spanish Version of the Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS)

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish normative values for the Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) in the Spanish community population (without voice problems), using a sample from a large area of southeastern Spain. Method: The sample consisted of 115 adults from ages 16 to 87, 60 of whom were women and 55 were men. Participants included the family members of patients who attended the Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) and Speech Therapy Clinic at a referral hospital in the region of Murcia, Spain, and some of the clinic's staff. All the participants reported never having suffered from any voice disorder before. Results: The normative values obtained in this study for the VoiSS were 14.61 (SD=8.18) for the total score, 7.57 (SD = 5.42) for the Impairment subscale, 1.04 (SD = 1.65) for the Emotional subscale, and 5.99 (SD = 3.61) for the Physical subscale. The percentile values were also obtained for the VoiSS scale and for its three subscales. Conclusions: This study presents normative values for the VoiSS scale that have not previously been obtained in Spain. These values can be used as a reference to detect possible voice disorders.

Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue establecer valores normativos para la escala Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) en población comunitaria española (sin problemas de voz), utilizando una muestra de un área extensa del sureste de España. Metodología: La muestra estuvo compuesta por 115 personas (60 mujeres y 55 hombres) con edades comprendidas entre los 16 y 87 años. Los participantes eran familiares que acompañaron a los pacientes a las sesiones clínicas de ORL y de Logopedia de un hospital de referencia de la Región de Murcia, así como personal del hospital. Todos declararon no padecer ningún trastorno de la voz. Resultados: Los valores normativos obtenidos en este estudio para el VoiSS fueron 14.61 (SD=8.18) para la puntuación total, 7.57 (SD = 5.42) para la subescala Limitación, 1.04 (SD = 1.65) para la subescala Emocional y 5.99 (SD = 3.61) para la subescala Física. Los valores percentílicos se obtuvieron también para la escala VoiSS y para sus tres subescalas. Conclusiones: Este estudio presenta valores normativos para la escala VoiSS que no han sido todavía obtenidos en España. Estos valores pueden utilizarse como referencia para detectar posibles trastornos de voz.