Noemi Grigoletto De Biase

Clinical Evolution of Laryngeal Granulomas: Treatment and Prognosis

Objective/Hypothesis: To study the response to treatment by patients with granulomas not related to surgery, considering their respective causes. Methods: Retrospective study of larynx granulomas seen at the Institute da Laringe (Sǎo Paulo, Brazil) from June 1996, totaling 66 patients, being 20 (30,3%) diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux syndrome, 22 (33,3%) due to vocal abuse, 15 (22,7%) to postorotracheal intubation, and 9 (13,6%) of idiopathic cause. Findings: Of the 66 patients diagnosed, 10 did not start the treatment, with only 56 being analyzed, 6 of whom later abandoned the treatment. The cause‐oriented treatment showed 100% control in postintubation granulomas. In the cases of reflux and vocal abuse, the success rates when considering only the cause were 75% and 87.5%, respectively. In the cases of undefined cause, all were subjected to surgical removal with or without clinical or speech‐therapy treatment; we attained only a 37.5% success rate in the first trial. Of these, after various unsuccessful rescue treatments, three which were treated with botulinum toxin type A had 100% resolution. The recurrence percentage varied according to the cause, being nonexistent in the postintubation cases, 21.4% in patients with reflux esophagitis, 35.2% in vocal abuse, and 62.5% in those of idiopathic etiology. Conclusion: Of the laryngeal granulomas, the best prognoses were given by the postintubation ones, whereas the worst were those of undefined cause. Those ascribed to gastroesophageal reflux and vocal abuse have a high resolution rate, although some cases need rescue procedures.

Vocal Nodules and Laryngeal Morphology

Our purpose was to study the occurrence of vocal fold nodules under conditions of habitual vocal abuse associated with increased laryngeal muscle tension, to identify the existence of a relationship between vocal nodules and laryngeal morphology. We studied one group of 30 subjects with vocal nodules, 18 to 50 years old, who were compared with two control groups, one of females and one of males, consisting of 30 subjects each. The parameters evaluated were: type of vocal folds coaptation, glottic proportion (GP) and abduction angle (AA), obtained by videotelelaryngoscopy. In the nodules group, the larynges presented a mean value of GP similar to that of the female group, both of which were lower than the mean GP value of the male group. On the other hand, the mean AA was lower than the one in the female group, and closer to the one in the male group. We concluded that vocal nodules were present only in larynges with a predominantly young female morphology, with functional limitations of abduction.

Importance of glottic configuration in the development of posterior laryngeal granuloma.

Posterior laryngeal granuloma is frequently related to 3 predisposing factors: vocal abuse, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and orotracheal intubation. It is strongly predominant in men and rare in women, except under postintubation circumstances, in which the incidence is higher in women. The aim of this study was to characterize laryngeal conformations for each sex that, whenever associated with different causes, may lead to the onset and particular location of granulomas, according to a main predisposing factor. Sixty-six subjects whose ages ranged from 18 to 73 years were studied. They were distributed into 4 groups according to the predominant cause of granuloma: intubation, vocal abuse, gastroesophageal reflux, and idiopathic causes. The larynx was evaluated during breathing, and the glottic proportion (GP) was measured. Glottic proportion is the mathematical ratio between the midsagittal dimension of the intermembranous region and that of the intercartilaginous region of the larynx during inhalation. Its measurement was feasible in 57 patients. The groups that had a causative factor other than laryngeal orotracheal intubation had GP values statistically similar to those of each other and to the control group of men, ie, close to 1.2. The postintubation group had GP values similar to the control group of women, ie, close to 1.0; this proportion protects the arytenoid region in womens larynges when there is effort during vocal production, but makes women susceptible to orotracheal postintubation granuloma.

Concentration of Hyaluronic Acid in Human Vocal Folds in Young and Old Subjects

Objective. To compare and evaluate concentrations of hyaluronic acid (HA) in normal vocal folds of both young and elderly people of both sexes. Study Design. Experimental study. Setting. The research was carried out at the ENT, Head and Neck Surgery Department and the Pharmacology Institute of São Paulo Federal University. Subjects and Methods. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay plates coated with biotin-conjugated binding protein and streptavidin-europium conjugate were sequentially incubated with samples from the middle portion of the cover, vocal ligament, and vocal muscle of 19 young and 20 elderly subjects of both sexes. After the release of europium in an enhancement solution, final fluorescence was measured using a fluorometer. Results. Statistically significant comparisons: (1) all subject groups combined exhibited a higher HA concentration in the cover and ligament compared with the muscle samples; (2) women subjects had a significantly lower HA concentration in muscle compared with the ligament, and male subjects showed significantly lower HA in muscle compared with the cover; and (3) both genders of young subjects showed a higher HA concentration in ligament samples compared with the muscle. Conclusion. HA concentrations are higher in the cover and ligament compared with the muscle in both genders and age groups, and there is a higher HA concentration in ligament compared with the muscle of young subjects of both genders. HA levels in the cover samples of younger women showed great variability that may relate to ovarian hormone levels, reflecting different phases of the menstrual cycle.

The research questions and methodological adequacy of clinical studies of the voice and larynx published in Brazilian and international journals

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the methodological adequacy of voice and laryngeal study designs published in speech-language pathology and otorhinolaryngology journals indexed for the ISI Web of Knowledge (ISI Web) and the MEDLINE database. METHODS A cross-sectional study conducted at the Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Federal University of São Paulo). Two Brazilian speech-language pathology and otorhinolaryngology journals (Pró-Fono and Revista Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia) and two international speech-language pathology and otorhinolaryngology journals (Journal of Voice, Laryngoscope), all dated between 2000 and 2004, were hand-searched by specialists. Subsequently, voice and larynx publications were separated, and a speech-language pathologist and otorhinolaryngologist classified 374 articles from the four journals according to objective and study design. RESULTS The predominant objective contained in the articles was that of primary diagnostic evaluation (27%), and the most frequent study design was case series (33.7%). A mere 7.8% of the studies were designed adequately with respect to the stated objectives. There was no statistical difference in the methodological quality of studies indexed for the ISI Web and the MEDLINE database. CONCLUSION The studies published in both national journals, indexed for the MEDLINE database, and international journals, indexed for the ISI Web, demonstrate weak methodology, with research poorly designed to meet the proposed objectives. There is much scientific work to be done in order to decrease uncertainty in the field analysed.

Blood Vessels of Vocal Folds: A Videolaryngoscopic Study

OBJECTIVE To analyze and compare the incidence and visual characteristics of blood vessels on the superior surface of vocal folds with polyps, nodules, and minimal structural alterations (ie, sulci, cysts, and mucosal bridges). DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Academic research. PATIENTS A total of 280 videolaryngoscopic images were randomly selected and classified into the following 4 groups of 70 patients each: the vocal nodule (VN) group, the polyp group, the minimal structural alterations (MSA) group, and the control group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Laryngoscopic images were assessed for visible blood vessels and for the orientation and characteristics of the vessels. Isolated ectasias with clear boundaries were excluded. RESULTS The highest incidence of visible vessels was observed in the MSA group (91.4%), followed by the polyp (77.1%), VN (44.7%), and control (31.4%) groups. Longitudinal and transverse vessels were found more frequently in the MSA (74.3% and 37.1%) and polyp (65.7% and 22.9%) groups than in the VN (34.3% and 12.9%) and control (25.7% and 5.7%) groups. Tangled vessels were found only in the MSA group (8.6%). Abrupt changes in the caliber of the vessels and sinuous vessels were observed only in the polyp (21.4% and 5.7%) and MSA (61.4% and 27.1%) groups. CONCLUSIONS The main differences in the incidence and characteristics of visible blood vessels occurred between 2 pairs of groups: MSA-polyp and VN-control. The incidence was significantly higher in the MSA group than in the polyp group, and the incidence in both the MSA group and the polyp group was also significantly higher than that in the VN and control groups. The greatest variations were found in the MSA group, including the presence of tangled blood vessels (which was observed only in this group).

Imunohistoquímica como método de estudo das fibras elásticas em prega vocal humana

AIM: Verify the use of immunohistochemistry as a method to measure all forms of elastic fibers at human vocal folds. STUDY DESIGN: transversal cohort. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We collected vocal folds following these criterion: age between 25 and 40, Caucasian men, dead by gun shot, within 12 hours of death, without instrumentation of the larynx or suspicion of neck injury and without mucosal lesions noted by microscopy. Ten vocal folds were collected and one, of a man aged 28 years, was selected to study. The vocal fold was transversely cut in 9 regions and in each segment three slides were made. These slides were stained by Verhoeff and Weigherts resorcin-fuchsin and used for immunohistochemistry. The elastic compound was measured by colorimetric software analysis. RESULTS: In Verhoeff and Weigherts resorcin-fuchsin, the intermediate and deep layer showed values higher than those of the superficial layer. The amount of tropoelastin identified by the antibody at the superficial layer was close to those of intermediate and deep layer. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemistry is a method that can identify and measure all forms of elastic fibers at human vocal fold.

Dysphonia Severity Degree and Phonation Onset Latency in Laryngeal Adductor Dystonia

Although the latency between the initiation of thyroarytenoid electrical activity and the onset of phonation generally is increased in patients with adductor laryngeal dystonia, there is disagreement about whether there is overlap of latency values in these patients and normal subjects. The goal of this article was to compare the severity of dysphonia with the latency between electrophysiological activation of the thyroarytenoid muscle (TA) and the onset of phonation in patients with adductor laryngeal dystonia and compare the values with normal controls. Twenty-one patients with adductor dystonia and 15 control patients underwent laryngeal electromyographic (EMG) examination of the left TA. We measured the latency from initiation spike of the electric activity of the TA muscle to the onset of phonation. Three speech-pathologists/voice specialists arrived at a consensus to rate the perceptual evaluation of voice quality for the study group. The average latency measured for patients with mild dysphonia was 332 milliseconds, for moderate dysphonia was 426 milliseconds, and for the severe dysphonia was 792 milliseconds. We used the Spearmans correlation test to compare the latency time values and the dysphonias degree of severity (P<0.05). Latency was significantly and directly related to the degree of severity of dysphonia.

Detecção de receptor de ácido hialurônico em prega vocal humana por método imunohistoquímico

Hyaluronic acid receptor is a glycoprotein of the plasmatic membrane, and the CD44 is its representative, expressed in many cell types where it has the task of cell adhesion. AIM: the goal of the present experimental study is to investigate the possibility of using immunohistochemistry to identify the distribution of hyaluronic acid along the vocal fold. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We resected the normal vocal folds from a normal 23 year-old male black individual. The slides were analyzed by means of a histomorphometric study, comparing the color intensity in the superficial, middle and deep layers of the lamina propria. In the silanized slides we used immunohistochemistry, and evaluated the slides under light microscopy with 40x magnification, and the color changed to brown when there was a reaction with the receptor for hyaluronic acid. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical findings showed the presence of hyaluronic acid receptors in the epithelium covering the vocal fold, being more concentrated in the central region of the vocal fold. CONCLUSION: immunohistochemistry, used to assess the distribution of hyaluronic acid receptors in the central portion of the vocal fold, proved it to be present in the vocal fold epithelium and it prevailed in its middle third.

Distonia laríngea respiratória

Laryngeal Breathing Dystonia (LBD) is a rare disorder characterized by inappropriate adduction of the true vocal cords during inspiration, resulting in stridor and dispnea. However, sometimes it is difficult to recognize the underlying etiology of the stridor, specially in emergencial situations, and LBD may be occasionally misdiagnosed, which makes this disease perhaps more frequent than it has been taught. The diagnosis is further supported by the finding of dystonic features and by exclusion of other causes of paradoxical vocal cord motion. There has been no satisfactory treatment for the disease. Botulinum toxin type A (Botox®) injection into the thyreoarytenoid muscle has been shown to be very effective, but only few cases have been reported. The authors describe the clinical presentation of Laryngeal Breathing Dystonia in two patients with complaints of stridor. Evaluation by laryngoscopy revealed paradoxical vocal cord motion and malacia of the epiglottis. Treatment was attempted by injection of Botox® in the adductor muscles. In this article the diagnostic approach of this disease is evaluated in accordance to the earliest concepts on laryngeal dystonias. Based on the classification system for laryngeal dystonias presented by Koufman and Blabock, the authors propose the recognition of a new subtype of DLR.