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Correlation between symptoms and laryngeal signs in laryngopharyngeal reflux.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is diagnosed by the presence of laryngeal signs and symptoms. Some studies have noted that signs and symptoms may be nonspecific and may have poor correlation. However, many such studies were either observational or had short-term follow-up. Therefore, we conducted subgroup analysis of a prospective concurrent controlled study with a 1 year follow-up to study the correlation between signs and symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: Seventy-two patients with suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease related laryngeal symptoms/signs received a 4 month trial of aggressive acid-suppressive therapy. Four month symptomatic nonresponders (<50% improvement) with continued laryngeal inflammation and normalized esophageal acid exposure were then offered laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. The primary outcome was laryngeal symptom-sign correlation at 1 year postsurgery. RESULTS: Twenty-five of 72 (35%) patients remained unresponsive after 4 months of aggressive acid suppressive therapy. Ten (40%) patients agreed to undergo surgical fundoplication (mean age = 50, male = 4). The most common laryngeal symptoms were sore throat (40%), hoarseness (30%), and cough (20%), whereas the most common signs were medial arytenoid wall erythema/edema (60%), interarytenoid erythema (50%), and arytenoid complex erythema/edema (50%). At 1 year postfundoplication, laryngeal symptoms improved in only 1 of 10 (10%) patient, whereas signs improved in 8 of 10 (80%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be poor correlation between signs and symptoms of LPR, particularly when monitoring therapeutic outcomes. In patients unresponsive to twice-daily proton-pump inhibitor therapy for 4 months, further aggressive therapy is unlikely to bring additional symptomatic benefit.

Anti-Ulcer Agents↗

Treatment of chronic posterior laryngitis with esomeprazole.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of acid-suppressive therapy with the proton pump inhibitor esomeprazole on the signs and symptoms of chronic posterior laryngitis (CPL) in patients with suspected reflux laryngitis. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, randomized, parallel-group trial that compared twice-daily esomeprazole 40 mg with placebo for 16 weeks. METHODS: Eligible patients had a history of one or more CPL symptoms (throat clearing, cough, globus, sore throat, or hoarseness) and laryngoscopic signs indicating reflux laryngitis based on CPL index (CPLI) scores measured during a screening laryngoscopy. Patients were randomized to treatment if their 7-day screening diary-card recordings showed a cumulative primary symptom score of 9 or higher and they had 3 or more days with moderately severe symptoms based on a 7-point scale. Efficacy was assessed by changes in symptoms as recorded by patients and investigators and by changes in CPLI scores based on laryngoscopic examinations. RESULTS: The patients' primary CPL symptom at final visit (primary efficacy end point) was resolved in 14.7% (14/95) and 16.0% (8/50) of patients in the esomeprazole and placebo groups, respectively (P=.799). Esomeprazole and placebo were not significantly different for change from baseline to the final visit in mean total CPLI (-1.66+/-2.13 vs. -2.0+/-2.55, respectively; P=.446) or any other secondary efficacy end points based on patient diary card or investigator assessments. CONCLUSION: This study provides no evidence of a therapeutic benefit of treatment with esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily for 16 weeks compared with placebo for signs and symptoms associated with CPL.

Adult↗

Helicobacter pylori seropositivity predicts outcomes of acid suppression therapy for laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: Although an inverse relationship has been reported between the rates of reflux esophagitis and Helicobacter pylori infection in Japan, infection rates among patients complaining of laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms, such as abnormal laryngopharyngeal sensation, chronic coughing, and hoarseness, have not previously been investigated. The effects of H. pylori infection on outcomes of acid suppression therapy have not been studied. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: We investigated the relationships between H. pylori antibody positivity, laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms, objective laryngopharyngeal findings, and rate of response to acid-suppression therapy in 42 subjects who were diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease, using upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and were assayed for the serum H. pylori antibody. RESULTS: The incidence of H. pylori antibody positivity in the targeted patient group was 59.5%. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the laryngopharyngeal symptom-improvement rate, measured using the symptom score, was significantly lower for H. pylori antibody-negative cases than for H. pylori antibody-positive cases (30.0 vs. 84.6%; P = .002) 60 days after the start of acid-suppression therapy. No significant differences in the esophageal symptom-improvement rate were noted between the two groups (76.2 vs. 89.5%; P = .576) CONCLUSIONS: By focusing on the involvement of H. pylori infection in laryngopharyngeal reflux, we determined the relationships between H. pylori antibody positivity and response to acid-suppression therapy among patients. The laryngopharyngeal, not esophageal, symptom relief by acid-suppression therapy was significantly lower among H. pylori antibody-negative cases than among antibody-positive cases.

Adult↗

Aerodynamics, voice quality, and laryngeal image analysis of normal and pathologic voices.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to describe examinations of phonatory function and their relation to image analysis of the unilaterally immobile larynx. Special emphasis was placed on image analysis using three-dimensional endoscopic images produced from CT scans. RECENT FINDINGS: Developments in modern image processing technique have led to the quantification of various aspects of vocal fold vibration. Stroboscopic images of the vocal fold were digitized and, subsequently, the glottal gap area, amplitude, and degree of bowing were analyzed quantitatively in relation to phonatory function. Vocal fold vibration was observed with the aid of videokymography, during which images from a single transverse line can be recorded. Successive line images were shown in real time on a monitor, with the time dimension displayed in the vertical direction. This system enabled the assessment of left-right asymmetries, open quotient, propagation of mucosal waves, and forth. Three-dimensional endoscopic images derived from multislice CT scans provided a novel method for evaluating morphologic characteristics of the laryngeal lumen in relation to phonatory function. The combination of three-dimensional endoscopy and coronal reconstructed images supplemented stroboscopic findings exemplified by differences in vertical position and thickness between the vocal folds. SUMMARY: Depth information about the vocal fold as well as the presence of paradoxic movement of the affected vocal fold and overadduction of the healthy vocal fold during phonation should be taken into account when surgical intervention to improve hoarseness resulting from unilateral vocal fold immobility is performed. Phonatory function tests, videostroboscopy, and laryngeal image analysis are prerequisites to achieving this goal.

Humans↗

Severe Dysphagia after botulinum toxin B injection to the lower limbs and lumbar paraspinal muscles.

We report a case of severe dysphagia in a 29-yr-old woman with cerebral palsy after she was injected with botulinum toxin B to her lower limbs and lumbar paraspinal muscles. Four days after the treatment, she developed difficulty swallowing, more severe for solid foods than for liquids, accompanied by dry mouth, blurred vision, and voice hoarseness. Fifteen days after the injection, with worsening of her dysphagia, she was hospitalized. A laryngoscopic evaluation revealed bilateral vocal cord paresis, and a modified barium swallow test demonstrated delayed oral initiation, upper airway penetration, and no reflexive cough. In the following days, she improved spontaneously and was discharged 12 days later when she re-acquired the ability to swallow solid foods. Her symptoms resolved completely only 75 days after the injection. Although dysphagia is a common side effect of botulinum injection in the neck, to our knowledge, this is the first reported case of severe dysphagia after injection in a distant anatomic site.

Adult↗

Aggravation of laryngeal rheumatoid arthritis after use of a laryngeal mask airway.

We report a case of aggravation of laryngeal rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after the use of a laryngeal mask airway (LMA). The patient was a 55-year-old woman with severe RA who underwent wrist arthrodesis under general anesthesia using a size 3 LMA. A few days after the operation, she reported hoarseness. Inflammation of the arytenoid region and vocal cord immobility were observed by fiberoptic nasolaryngoscopy. Vocal function returned to normal by postoperative day 42 in response to prednisolone therapy. In this case, stridor was misdiagnosed preoperatively, and postoperative symptoms and local findings were probably caused by aggravation of laryngeal RA resulting from substantial compression of the arytenoid region by the LMA. For patients with RA referred for surgery, a careful search for cricoarytenoid arthritis is essential, particularly in those with laryngeal stridor, because it may be aggravated after general anesthesia.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis presenting with destructive polyarthritis, laryngopharyngeal dysfunction, and a huge reticulohistiocytoma.

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH) is a rare multisystemic disease presenting with skin lesions and erosive polyarthritis and is often associated with malignancy. We describe a 60-year-old woman with diffuse papulonodular skin eruptions and progressive osteolytic bone damage over the bilateral hands, humeral head, and acromioclavicular joints within 2 years. Moreover, dysphagia and a hoarse voice occurred in this patient and an unusual huge mass-reticulohistiocytoma--developed over the left upper back. Tissue biopsy of the skin lesions, laryngeal nodules, and this large mass showed infiltration of numerous CD68(+) histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells with abundant eosinophilic ground-glass cytoplasm. Combination therapy with steroids and methotrexate improved her cutaneous, joint, and laryngopharyngeal symptoms. The large reticulohistiocytoma resolved with methylprednisolone pulse therapy. This polyarthritis, which can be confused with rheumatoid arthritis, can be diagnosed by careful immunohistochemical examination of biopsies. To prevent the irreversible disease process, early and aggressive therapy is necessary.

Arthritis↗

Wegener granulomatosis with back pain, periaortitis, and dural inflammation developing while receiving monthly cyclophosphamide.

A 61-year-old white man was admitted to our department because of severe back and upper abdominal pain of 1 month's duration. The patient was diagnosed with Wegener granulomatosis 10 months before the presentation based on chronic otitis media, hoarseness, and hemoptysis; positive c-ANCA; and laryngeal and lung biopsies showing multinucleated giant cells. The patient was treated with monthly injections of cyclophosphamide (1-1.5 g per month) and 80 mg prednisone daily with rapid improvement. Prednisone dose was tapered off and 1 month before the present admission, the patient developed severe low back pain. Extensive workup, including abdominal computed axial tomography scan, computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance image of the spinal cord, and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan, revealed 2 periaortic soft tissue structures seen at the level of L3 and at the level of the celiac trunk and linear meningeal thickening of the spinal cord at the level of D4-8. All these structures showed strong signal on FDG-PET scan. Treatment with methylprednisolone (1000 mg/d) for 3 consecutive days followed by 80 mg prednisone per day and 100 mg cyclophosphamide per day was started with rapid attenuation of the patient's symptoms. This case describes the clinical course of the rare complication of Wegener granulomatosis, periaortitis, and dural inflammation despite monthly cyclophosphamide and demonstrates the role of magnetic resonance imaging and FDG-PET in their diagnosis.

Back Pain↗

Vagus nerve stimulation for refractory epilepsy: a transatlantic experience.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an alternative treatment for medically or surgically refractory epilepsy. The long-term efficacy and safety of VNS were evaluated in a large patient series at Ghent University Hospital and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Between March 1995 and February 2003, seizure frequency and type as well as prescribed antiepileptic drugs and side effects were prospectively assessed in 131 patients treated with VNS in either center. Patients with a minimum follow-up duration of 6 months were included in the efficacy and safety analysis. A total of 118 of 131 implanted patients had a minimum postimplantation follow-up period of 6 months (mean, 33 months). The mean age of these patients was 32 years and the mean duration of refractory epilepsy was 22 years. The mean reduction in monthly seizure frequency in all patients was 55% (range, 0-100; SD = 31.6). Seven percent of patients were free of seizures with impaired consciousness, 50% of patients had a seizure frequency reduction of more than 50%, and 21% of patients were nonresponders. Fifteen patients reported stimulation-related side effects such as hoarseness or gagging. In a large patient series from two geographically distinct epilepsy centers located in two different continents, VNS proved to be efficacious and safe during long-term follow-up.

Adolescent↗

Intraoperative monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve using acoustic, free-run, and evoked electromyography.

The purpose of this study was to explore advantages and disadvantages of electrodes used for monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and to determine the postoperative outcome in 135 patients. A pilot study examined 11 patients to compare the clinical performance of two commercially available recording electrodes and three stimulation electrodes for RLN neuromonitoring. After determining the most reliable and consistent stimulating/recording electrode combination, 124 patients were then monitored. In a total of 135 patients there was no permanent iatrogenic nerve damage to the RLN, although 2 patients developed transient vocal hoarseness that resolved shortly postoperatively. An initial "searching" current for evoked electromyography (EMG) was delivered at 0.7 mA and then decreased to a value of 0.35 mA, which reliably elicited RLN stimulation with a minimal incidence of false-positive results. The combination of auditory feedback from the mechanically elicited EMG and a control channel involving EMG monitoring of an additional peripheral muscle improved the detection of artifact and improved the clinical efficacy of intraoperative electromyography. A video camera showed the surgical manipulation on the EMG screen, allowing the neurophysiologist to correlate dissection with RLN status and location. Auditory responses from the nerve helped to determine the type of distress the RLN was encountering.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Vagus nerve stimulation for intractable seizures: one year follow-up.

Even with the best health care available, many patients with epilepsy still suffer from poorly controlled seizures. Patients with intractable partial seizures are often inhibited from realizing their full potential and may experience a less than optimal quality of life. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is being studied in a double-blind, controlled, randomized trial at 17 epilepsy centers throughout the U.S. and Europe as a potential therapy for patients with refractory seizures. During a 14-week controlled phase in three of the centers, the therapeutic group (N = 10) experienced a mean seizure frequency percent reduction (SFPR) of 33.1% as compared to baseline (p = 0.0084) while the subtherapeutic group (N = 12) experienced an SFPR of 0.6% as compared to baseline (p = 0.9183). After the controlled phase, all patients were switched into the therapeutic group in an open extension phase. Results after one year of therapeutic stimulation (N = 15) reveal a mean SFPR of 35.6% (p = 0.0088) with 6 of the 15 patients (40%) achieving at least a 50% seizure reduction. Adverse effects included hoarseness, coughing and nausea. There were no deaths or serious injuries related to the device. Based on these limited data, VNS appears to be a safe and efficacious new therapy for refractory partial seizures.

Double-Blind Method↗

Adaptive noise energy estimation in pathological speech signals.

For pathological voices, spectral noise is closely related to the degree of perceived hoarseness. In this paper, noise variations are tracked during an utterance by means of an adaptive version of the normalized noise energy method [1]. A first step is devoted to pitch estimation, which allows defining the varying optimal time window length for noise retrieval, avoiding empty "dip" regions. The approach is tested on synthetic data and applied to real data coming from cordectomised adult male patients.

Adult↗

Telemedicine applications in otolaryngology.

Under suitable technical and clinical conditions, remote interactive fiber-optic NPL can be used to evaluate a range of commonly occurring pathologies with a high degree of reliability. A clinical protocol appropriate for interactive and store-and-forward fiber-optic NPL was proposed for further evaluation. Additional applications of telemedicine in otolaryngology were outlined, including otoscopy, intra-oral examination, and evaluation of external facial pathology. We envisage tele-otolaryngology taking place in a variety of ways: Interactions between rural-based PCPs and specialists (routine evaluation of hoarseness, dysphagia), using store-and-forward techniques. Consults from emergency medicine physicians at a general service hospital to a specialist (laryngeal trauma, acute peritonsillar abscess, TM perforations) using interactive means. Case discussions between specialist and sub-specialist using a combination of store-and-forward and interactive technologies. Potentially, there are at least three significant benefits from widespread acceptance of telemedicine in the field of otolaryngology, or indeed in any of the medical specialties: Saved lives and reduced medical costs due to early detection of serious pathology (in this case, head and neck cancers). Reduced unnecessary referrals to specialists, and consequent savings to the patient and health-care insurer, accompanied by more efficient usage of specialist time. Enhanced level of medical education and interaction, as the link between the referring and consulting physician is more immediate and direct [27]. For these reasons, combined with the high number of visits at the primary-care level related to issues in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, tele-otolaryngology is poised to be a leading telemedicine application within the next few years.

Computer Communication Networks↗

Vibration parameter extraction from endoscopic image series of the vocal folds.

An approach is given to extract parameters affecting phonation based upon digital high-speed recordings of vocal fold vibrations and a biomechanical model. The main parameters which affect oscillation are vibrating masses, vocal fold tension, and subglottal air pressure. By combining digital high-speed observations with the two-mass-model by Ishizaka and Flanagan (1972) as modified by Steinecke and Herzel (1995), an inversion procedure has been developed which allows the identification and quantization of laryngeal asymmetries. The problem is regarded as an optimization procedure with a nonconvex objective function. For this kind of problem, the choice of appropriate initial values is important. This optimization procedure is based on spectral features of vocal fold movements. The applicability of the inversion procedure is first demonstrated in simulated vocal fold curves. Then, inversion results are presented for a healthy voice and a hoarse voice as a case of functional dysphonia caused by laryngeal asymmetry.

Adult↗

Classification of unilateral vocal fold paralysis by endoscopic digital high-speed recordings and inversion of a biomechanical model.

Hoarseness in unilateral vocal fold paralysis is mainly due to irregular vocal fold vibrations caused by asymmetries within the larynx physiology. By means of a digital high-speed camera vocal fold oscillations can be observed in real-time. It is possible to extract the irregular vocal fold oscillations from the high-speed recordings using appropriate image processing techniques. An inversion procedure is developed which adjusts the parameters of a biomechanical model of the vocal folds to reproduce the irregular vocal fold oscillations. Within the inversion procedure a first parameter approximation is achieved through a knowledge-based algorithm. The final parameter optimization is performed using a genetic algorithm. The performance of the inversion procedure is evaluated using 430 synthetically generated data sets. The evaluation results comprise an error estimation of the inversion procedure and show the reliability of the algorithm. The inversion procedure is applied to 15 healthy voice subjects and 15 subjects suffering from unilateral vocal fold paralysis. The optimized parameter sets allow a classification of pathologic and healthy vocal fold oscillations. The classification may serve as a basis for therapy selection and quantification of therapy outcome in case of unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Algorithms↗

Clinical and pathological features of pachyonychia congenita.

Pachyonychia congenita (PC) is a rare genodermatosis affecting the nails, skin, oral mucosae, larynx, hair, and teeth. Pathogenic mutations in keratins K6a or K16 are associated with the PC-1 phenotype whereas K6b and K17 mutations are associated with the PC-2 phenotype. Analysis of clinical, pathological, and genetic data from the literature and two research registries reveal that >97% of PC cases exhibit fingernail and toenail thickening, and painful plantar keratoderma. Prospective evaluation of 57 PC patients from 41 families revealed variable clinical findings: hyperhidrosis (79%), oral leukokeratosis (75%), follicular keratosis (65%), palmar keratoderma (60%), cutaneous cysts (35%), hoarseness or laryngeal involvement (16%), coarse or twisted hair (26%), early primary tooth loss (14%), and presence of natal or prenatal teeth (2%). Stratification of these data by keratin mutation confirmed the increased incidence of cyst formation and natal teeth among PC-2 patients, although cysts were more commonly seen in PC-1 than previously reported (25%-33%). Previously unreported clinical features of PC include development of painful oral and nipple lesions during breastfeeding, copious production of waxy material in ears, and inability to walk without an ambulatory aid (50%). Possible pathogenic mechanisms are discussed with respect to the clinicopathologic and genetic correlations observed.

Darier Disease↗

A case of pemphigus vulgaris in a six-year-old girl.

A case of pemphigus vulgaris in a six-year-old Japanese girl is presented. She first developed vesicles and ulcerations in oral and laryngeal mucous membranes, showing a hoarse voice and fits of coughing with excessive slavering. She had skin blisters six months later. Biopsy of the skin lesion demonstrated the intraepidermal blister in a suprabasal location. Direct immunofluorescence (IF) of the skin lesion revealed deposits of IgG and C3. Indirect IF showed serum anti-ICS antibody titer at 1:640. She was diagnosed as having pemphigus vulgaris. Treatment with oral prednisolone (1 mg/kg) proved effective. This is the first case of infantile pemphigus vulgaris in Japan.

Child↗

Lipoid proteinosis in two siblings: a report from India.

Lipoid proteinosis is an autosomally recessive genodermatosis characterized by widespread deposition of eosinophilic hyaline-like material in the skin, mucous membranes, and other internal organs. Occurrence of lipoid proteinosis in siblings is very rare. We report two siblings from the Indian subcontinent with the classical features of lipoid proteinosis. Both the siblings had had hoarseness of voice and spontaneous vesicular eruptions healing with atrophic scars since their early childhood. They had diffuse waxy thickening of the skin along with beaded papules along the eyelid margin. The tongue was also infiltrated. Skin biopsy demonstrated periodic acid Schiff (PAS) positive eosinophilic material around the blood vessels and appendages.

Biopsy, Needle↗