Voice following radiotherapy

This study was undertaken to provide information on the voice of patients following radiotherapy for glottic cancer. Part I presents findings from questionnaires returned by 227 of 235 patients successfully irradiated for glottic cancer from 1960 through 1971. Part II presents preliminary findings on the speaking fundamental frequencies of 22 irradiated patients. Normal to near-normal voice was reported by 83 percent of the 227 patients; however, 80 percent did indicate persisting vocal difficulties such as fatiguing of voice with much usage, inability to sing, reduced loudness, hoarse voice quality and inability to shout. Amount of talking during treatments appeared to affect length of time for voice to recover following treatments in those cases where it took from nine to 26 weeks; also, with increasing years since treatment, patients rated their voices more favorably. Smoking habits following treatments improved significantly with only 27 percent smoking heavily as compared with 65 percent prior to radiation therapy. No correlation was found between smoking (during or after treatments) and vocal ratings or between smoking and length of time for voice to recover. There was no relationship found between reported vocal ratings and stage of the disease. Data on mean speaking fundamental frequency seem to indicate a trend toward lower frequencies in irradiated patients as compared with normals. A trend was also noted in both irradiated and control groups for lower speaking fundamental frequencies in heavy smokers compared with non-smokers or previous smokers. These trends would indicate some vocal cord thickening or edema in irradiated patients and in heavy smokers. It is suggested that the study of irradiated patients' voices before, during and following treatments by means of audio, aerodynamic and acoustic instrumentation would yield additional information of diagnostic value on recovery of laryngeal function. It is also suggested that the voice pathologist could assist in evaluating and guiding patients in vocal usages during and following treatments.     

Voice following laryngeal cancer surgery: troubleshooting common problems after tracheoesophageal voice restoration

The introduction of tracheoesophageal voice restoration by Blom and Singer has provided laryngectomy patients with a successful alternative to the use of artificial larynx and esophageal speech.Although this method of communication provides for the rapid acquisition of intelligible, functional speech, there are common problems that may occur in these patients. Close follow-up of patients postoperatively along with thorough patient education is beneficial to improving long-term success with tracheoesophageal speech. The purpose of this article is to discuss common problems encountered in the treatment of patients who have undergone tracheoesophageal puncture and to provide systematic assessment and treatment guidelines that are essential to maintaining functional tracheoesophageal speech.     

Voice changes following cricothyroidotomy

Twenty-four patients underwent cricothyroidotomy at Guy's Hospital between 1977 and 1981. Of these, 13 died during admission or shortly after discharge as a result of their primary disease and three were unsuitable for further examination. The eight remaining patients were examined to assess the effect of cricothyroidotomy on the laryngeal function of voice production. Assessment was made both subjectively and objectively by laryngography. Objective findings were correlated with structural changes seen by indirect laryngoscopy. Six of the eight patients examined had both subjective and objective disturbance of voice production. We report our experience with the surgical procedure of cricothyroidotomy which, in addition to a high incidence of vocal disturbance, includes one case of subglottic stenosis secondary to granulation tissue.     

Voice disorder following parathyroidectomy

We report two patients with voice disorders after parathyroidectomy without thyroidectomy and paresis of the recurrent nerve. The connection between hypoparathyroidismus and laryngeal tetany is discussed.     

Vision recovery following nasopharyngeal angiofibroma excision

'Juvenile' nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a locally aggressive, yet histologically benign, vascular neoplasm. This neoplasm accounts for less than 0.5% of head and neck neoplasms. We report an unique case of a 14-year-old male with a nasopharyngeal angiofibroma compressing the optic nerve and causing great visual impairment. The tumor was a red lobulated mass in left nostril, invading maxillary sinus, anterior and posterior ethmoid sinus, sphenoid sinus, and cavum area. Midfacial degloving approach and total excision of the tumor resulted in almost completely visual recovery. Optic nerve decompression was not performed. We consider that an early diagnosis, an adequate approach, total tumor excision, and efforts by a team of sub-specialists are most likely to yield optimal results.     

Voice problems in children: pathogenesis and diagnosis

Voice problems seem to concern more than one child out of twenty, and may concern quality (hoarseness), resonance (nasality), pitch (mutation) and loudness. The main etiological categories are defined as organic (congenital/acquired), functional/habitual (especially due to voice abuse and misuse), and psychogenic (especially mutation disorders). Flexible transnasal endoscopes of small diameter (2.3 mm) are optimally suited for accurate endoscopic diagnosis, especially if combined with video-recording and stroboscopy.     

Intralesional cidofovir and surgical excision for laryngeal papillomatosis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of cidofovir intralesional therapy in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and the role of surgical excision as an associated treatment. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study and case series. METHOD: Twenty-six patients received intralesional cidofovir. Three endoscopies were performed at monthly intervals, with intralesion injections of cidofovir at 5 mg/mL. Further endoscopic evaluation was made at 3 or 6 months depending on whether there was persistent papillomatosis. Cidofovir was again injected in the case of persistent papillomas, and treatment was repeated as long as papillomas were observed. Surgical excision of the papilloma was only performed in cases of airway obstruction or in cases proving resistant to cidofovir. RESULTS: Complete remission was obtained in 8 (31%) patients after an average of 2.6 endoscopic treatment. Seventeen (65%) patients presented slight or mild disease at endpoint (final severity score 1-4). Significant results were obtained in both adults and children. A greater response was obtained in the supraglottis and glottis subsites than in subglottis, tracheal, and other sites. Patients conforming to the 1 month interinjection schedule showed better responses in supraglottis subsite than those receiving their injections with intervals longer than 1 month. Combined therapy (cidofovir plus excision) was necessary in persistent papillomas. No patients presented with any systemic or local side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Cidofovir therapy was an effective treatment in adults and in children, allowing papillomatosis to be controlled without observed side effects. Surgical excision associated with cidofovir injections remained necessary in persistent papillomatosis after cidofovir treatment.     

Voice rehabilitation following laryngectomy by the Gronigen prosthesis

The Groningen voice prosthesis is a self-retaining silicone device, placed in the tracheooesophageal wall as a primary procedure during laryngectomy or some time after surgery. Prosthetic vocal rehabilitation was successful in 80% of the patients. Indications, contra-indications, advantages, disadvantages and complications are discussed.     

Voice gains following thyroplasty may improve over time

Type I thyroplasty for unilateral vocal fold paralysis restores voice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate measures of voice before thyroplasty, and at 3 months and 1 year after surgery. Of interest was whether vocal improvement in the first weeks after surgery was maintained or even enhanced over time. A total of 40 patients with unilateral paralysis underwent type I thyroplasty with or without arytenoid adduction. Perceptual, acoustic and aerodynamic measures of voice were studied. Perceptual analysis determined that optimal postoperative voice quality evolved over the first year. Acoustic indices of perturbation demonstrated progressive improvement over 12 months, whereas pitch and intensity ranges were increasingly extended. Postoperative glottal flow rates were normalized and phonation times were significantly longer, with benefits maintained over time. All perceptual, aerodynamic and acoustic measures of voice were improved 3 months after thyroplasty, with many measures further improved at 1 year. Such findings provide evidence that voice outcome progressively evolves over the first 12 months after surgery.     

Voice rehabilitation following laryngectomy. Myomucosal tracheoesophageal shunt

Surgical procedures for speech rehabilitation following laryngectomy lack wide support owing to tumor recurrence, aspiration, stenosis of the fistula, and multiple surgical stages of limited usefulness in irradiated patients. The recent prostheses and their modifications have approximately a 70% success rate but similarly remain limited by the requisite maintenance and soilage. A mucosa-lined tracheoesophageal fistula with a functioning proximal muscle sphincter, created in one stage at laryngectomy, is described. This myomucosal unit can function with or without a prosthesis and potentially eliminates aspiration. Evolution of the flap design in an animal model is delineated and the clinical trial in six patients high-lighted. Five of the six have an excellent vocal quality without an associated air leak on phonation. Three function without a prosthesis.     

Voice rehabilitation following blunt trauma to the larynx

Two case reports illustrate different ways for restoration of quality of the voice. In both instances the vocal cords were displaced by trauma and restored by surgical correction.     

The surgical management of the pars tensa retraction pocket in the child--results following simple excision and ventilation tube insertion

Retraction pockets of the pars tensa formed due to poor mesotympanic ventilation can result in chronic infection, ossicular damage and even acquired cholesteatoma. A diversity in opinion exists as to the best surgical treatment of an established retraction pocket. This paper presents a consecutive prospective series of 39 ears managed over the last 4 years by means of simple excision and insertion of a middle ear ventilation tube. The retraction pockets were graded according to Sade's 1979 classification. There were 23 grade II and sixteen grade III retractions. All 39 pockets were successfully excised. Thirty-four of the perforations healed, with the remaining five failing to heal at the time of analysis. In 13 cases the pockets recurred, but in five of these cases the recurrence is minimal and has required no further surgical intervention. Of the eight remaining significant recurrences, four have undergone a repeat procedure with no further recurrence in three cases. Following initial surgery, 67% of the ears operated upon had either minimal or no recurrence. Following further surgery this figure increased to 75%. The air conduction threshold improved by an average of thirteen decibels in those ears that healed with no recurrence.     

Hearing recovery following suboccipital excision of acoustic neuroma

Improvement of hearing after excision of an acoustic neuroma has been observed infrequently. We present a case of dramatic recovery of hearing in a patient with a 1-cm acoustic neuroma whose pure-tone thresholds and speech discrimination had profoundly deteriorated while she awaited surgical therapy. Postoperatively, her hearing in the affected ear is equal to that in her other ear, and her speech discrimination exceeds that of her best preoperative audiogram. Issues related to hearing preservation and improvement after acoustic tumor surgery are discussed.