1/8. Goitre presenting as an oropharyngeal mass: an unusual finding in the elderly.Thyroid goitre presentation in the neck with extension inferiorly to the mediastinum is well-known. Extension superiorly into the retropharyngeal space is very rare and may be accompanied by change in voice and/or airway compromise. A case is described of a patient with change in voice and mild airway compromise secondary to a goitre presenting in the oropharynx. Computed tomography (CT) and physical findings are discussed with the need to recognize this rare entity.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/8. Steroid inhaler laryngitis: dysphonia caused by inhaled fluticasone therapy.OBJECTIVE: To describe a condition that is referred to as steroid inhaler laryngitis, a clinical entity that is caused by the use of inhaled fluticasone propionate and manifested by dysphonia, throat clearing, and fullness. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: An outpatient clinic of an academic referral center. patients: The study population consisted of 20 patients with reactive airway disease and dysphonia who were receiving inhaled fluticasone therapy and who were diagnosed as having steroid inhaler laryngitis during the period from January 1998 to June 2000. INTERVENTION: Cessation of inhaled fluticasone therapy when possible, as well as treatment of other underlying causes of dysphonia, such as laryngopharyngeal reflux and infectious processes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The resolution of dysphonia with cessation of inhaled fluticasone therapy. RESULTS: patients with steroid inhaler laryngitis were found to have laryngeal findings ranging from mucosal edema, erythema, and thickening to leukoplakia, granulation, and candidiasis. patients with more severe mucosal findings were more likely to have laryngopharyngeal reflux as well. Resolution of dysphonia occurred only after discontinuation of the inhaled fluticasone therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Steroid inhaler laryngitis is a form of chemical laryngopharyngitis induced by topical steroid administration. Symptoms and physical findings mimic laryngopharyngeal reflux, but only respond completely to discontinuation of the inhaled steroid therapy. The otolaryngologist should be familiar with this cause of dysphonia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/8. Psychogenic voice disorders in performers: a psychodynamic model.Psychogenic voice disorders are not infrequently encountered in the busy voice clinic. A clinician-friendly psychodynamic model and a multidisciplinary management approach are presented which have proven helpful for our voice team and our patients. In essence the formulation revolves around an "event" occurring, which may be either organic or psychological in nature. The ensuing dysphonia then leads to emotional consequences which in turn have physical consequences on the vocal tract. The situation can become reinforcing and illness behaviors develop. Elucidating this event/process to the patient improves the likelihood of a successful long-term outcome. The diagnostic and management roles of the various team members are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/8. Cricoid chondrosarcoma presenting as arytenoid hypertelorism.BACKGROUND: Arytenoid hypertelorism (arytenoid cartilages spaced too widely apart) appears to be the most common initial recognizable physical finding of cricoid chondrosarcoma. Nine cases from the Center for voice disorders are presented. With arytenoid hypertelorism caused by cricoid chondrosarcoma, usually the posterior larynx is open. In fact, patients with arytenoid hypertelorism caused by cricoid chondrosarcoma may be aphonic even though the anterior membranous vocal folds make contact during attempted phonation. methods: Between 1991 and 2002, nine patients were diagnosed with cricoid chondrosarcoma. patients' charts and video examinations were retrospectively evaluated for symptoms and the presence of arytenoid hypertelorism on endoscopic evaluation. Two were women, and seven were men, with a mean age of 70 (range 53-72) years at diagnosis. RESULTS: Eight (88%) patients had aphonia or dysphonia caused by arytenoid hypertelorism as their presenting symptom. Six were diagnosed after failed medialization laryngoplasty or other laryngeal rehabilitation surgery. All nine patients had a low-grade tumor. The initial treatment in eight patients was hemicricoidectomy, and one patient had a total laryngectomy. In four cases, a second procedure was needed 1 to 6 years later because of recurrence. Seven patients are alive without clinically significant disease; one is alive with moderate disease, and one has died from an unrelated cause. CONCLUSIONS: Severely dysphonic, elderly patients presenting with arytenoid hypertelorism of unknown cause should be evaluated by fiberoptic laryngoscopy and by computed tomography scan to rule out cricoid chondrosarcoma. Because these tumors behave so benignly, the authors recommend conservative surgery (unilateral hemicricoidectomy) as the diagnostic/treatment modality of choice.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/8. Vocal amusia in a professional tango singer due to a right superior temporal cortex infarction.We describe the psychophysical features of vocal amusia in a professional tango singer caused by an infarction mainly involving the superior temporal cortex of the right hemisphere. The lesion also extended to the supramarginal gyrus, the posterior aspect of the postcentral gyrus and the posterior insula. She presented with impairment of musical perception that was especially pronounced in discriminating timbre and loudness but also in discriminating pitch, and a severely impaired ability to reproduce the pitch just presented. In contrast, language and motor disturbances were almost entirely absent. By comparing her pre- and post-stroke singing, we were able to show that her singing after the stroke lacked the fine control of the subtle stress and pitch changes that characterized her pre-stroke singing. Such impairment could not be explained by the impairment of pitch perception. The findings suggest that damage to the right temporoparietal cortex is enough to produce both perceptive and expressive deficits in music.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/8. magnetic resonance imaging findings and correlations in spasmodic dysphonia patients.A sample of 19 spasmodic dysphonia (SD) patients was selected from a larger population of such patients to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), auditory brain stem response (ABR) testing, speech analysis, and extensive physical examination. Six patients had abnormal spin-echo MRI findings, ranging from infarcts within the basal ganglia to demyelinating lesions within the supralateral angles of the lateral ventricles. A weakly positive correlation was noted between the abnormal MRI findings and an abnormal ABR. The lack of a significant correlation between the MRI findings and other predictors of brain stem and midbrain disease, and the current spatial resolution limitations of MRI, suggest that we are visualizing the associated lesions rather than the actual foci of SD. The range of MRI findings is consistent with the concept that SD is a voice disorder in a heterogeneous patient population.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/8. Episodic paroxysmal laryngospasm: voice and pulmonary function assessment and management.Episodic paroxysmal laryngospasm (EPL) is a sign of laryngeal dysfunction, often without a specific organic etiology, which can masquerade as asthma, vocal fold paralysis, or a functional voice disorder. The intermittent respiratory distress of EPL may precipitate an apparent upper airway obstructive emergency, resulting in unnecessary endotracheal intubation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or tracheostomy. During 27 months, seven women and three men, age 30-76 years, were assessed by a high diagnostic index of suspicion, an intensive history including psychosocial factors, physical examination of the airways, provocative asthma testing, and swallowing studies. Videolaryngoscopy, stroboscopy, and pulmonary flow-volume loop testing were definitive. The classic appearance was paradoxic inspiratory adduction of the anterior vocal folds with a posterior diamond-shaped glottic gap. During an attack of stridor or wheezing, attenuation of the inspiratory flow rate as depicted by the flow-volume loop suggested partial extrathoracic upper airway obstruction. Swallowing evaluation by videolaryngoscopy and videosophagography may uncover gastroesophageal reflux disease. Hallmarks of management include patient and family education by observation of laryngoscopic videos, a specific speech therapy program, psychotherapy, and medical treatment of associated disorders. electromyography may become a valuable future adjunct. Unlike laryngeal dystonia, patients with EPL do not benefit from botulinum toxin type A.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/8. Treatment efficacy: voice disorders.This article reviews the literature on the efficacy of treatment for voice disorders primarily using studies published in peer-reviewed journals. voice disorders are defined, their frequency of occurrence across the life span is reported, and their impact on the lives of individuals with voice disorders is documented. The goal of voice treatment is to maximize vocal effectiveness given the existing disorder and to reduce the handicapping effect of the voice problem. Voice treatment may be (a) the preferred treatment to resolve the voice disorder when medical (surgical or pharmacological) treatments are not indicated; (b) the initial treatment in cases where medical treatment appears indicated; it may obviate the need for medical treatment; (c) completed before and after surgical treatment to maximize long-term post-surgical voice; and (d) a preventative treatment to preserve vocal health. Experimental and clinical data are reviewed that support these roles applied to various disorder types: (a) vocal misuse, hyperfunction and muscular imbalance (frequently resulting in edema, vocal nodules, polyps or contact ulcers); (b) medical or physical conditions (e.g., laryngeal nerve trauma, parkinson disease); and (c) psychogenic disorders (e.g., conversion reactions, personality disorders). Directions for future research are suggested which maximize clinical outcomes and scientific rigor to enhance knowledge on the efficacy of voice treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |