Osamu Shiromoto

Japanese Version of Voice Handicap Index for Subjective Evaluation of Voice Disorder

Recently, the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), developed in the United States, has been highlighted as a means to assess a patients perceptions of the severity of his or her voice disorder. The VHI is based on a self-administered questionnaire that quantifies the degree of a patients disability related to his/her voice disorder. The questionnaire was translated into Japanese and applied to Japanese patients with various kinds of disordered voice or dysphonia. The results were analyzed and the usefulness discussed. In this study, 546 patients (281 males and 265 females) were included. Mean VHI scores were 36.2/120 in males and 44.1/120 in females. In the male patients, VHI scores were the highest among teens. However, VHI scores did not vary with age in the female patients. Patients with vocal fold paralysis, functional dysphonia, psychological dysphonia, and spasmodic dysphonia showed relatively high VHI scores, whereas those with laryngeal granuloma and laryngopharyngeal reflux disease showed low scores. In most diseases, functional and physiological scores were higher than emotional scores. In any treated patients, those with vocal nodule, vocal polyp, polypoid vocal fold, and recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, VHI scores decreased after therapeutic intervention. These findings suggest that the Japanese VHI is a useful tool for monitoring a patients psychological status, choosing appropriate treatment, and assessing the therapeutic outcome.

Optimal Duration for Voice Rest After Vocal Fold Surgery: Randomized Controlled Clinical Study

OBJECTIVES Voice rest is commonly recommended after phonomicrosurgery to prevent worsening of vocal fold injuries. However, the most effective duration of voice rest is unknown. Recently, early vocal stimulation was recommended as a means to improve wound healing. The purpose of this study is to examine the optimal duration of voice rest after phonomicrosurgery. STUDY DESIGN Randomized controlled clinical study. METHODS Patients undergoing phonomicrosurgery for leukoplakia, carcinoma in situ, vocal fold polyp, Reinkes edema, and cyst were chosen. Participants were randomly assigned to voice rest for 3 or 7 postoperative days. Voice therapy was administered to both groups after voice rest. Grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain (GRBAS) scale, stroboscopic examination, aerodynamic assessment, acoustic analysis, and Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) were performed pre- and postoperatively at 1, 3, and 6 months. Stroboscopic examination evaluated normalized mucosal wave amplitude (NMWA). Parameters were compared between both groups. RESULTS Thirty-one patients were analyzed (3-day group, n = 16; 7-day group, n = 15). Jitter, shimmer, and VHI-10 were significantly better in the 3-day group at 1 month post operation. GRBAS was significantly better in the 3-day group at 1 and 3 months post operation, and NMWA was significantly better in the 3-day group at 1, 3, and 6 months post operation compared to the 7-day group. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that 3 days of voice rest followed by voice therapy may lead to better wound healing of the vocal fold compared to 7 days of voice rest. Appropriate mechanical stimulation during early stages of vocal fold wound healing may lead to favorable functional recovery.

Validation of Optimum ROI Size for 123I-FP-CIT SPECT Imaging Using a 3D Mathematical Cylinder Phantom

Objective(s): The partial volume effect (PVE) of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) on corpus striatum imaging is caused by the underestimation of specific binding ratio (SBR). A large ROI (region of interest) set using the Southampton method is independent of PVE for SBR. The present study aimed to determine the optimal ROI size with contrast and SBR for striatum images and validate the Southampton method using a three-dimensional mathematical cylinder (3D-MAC) phantom. Methods: We used ROIs sizes of 27, 36, 44, 51, 61, 68, and 76 mm for targets with diameters 40, 20, and 10 mm on reference and processed images reconstructed using the 3D-MAC phantom. Contrast values and SBR were compared with the theoretical values to obtain the optimal ROI size. Results: The contrast values in the ROI with diameters of 51 (target: 40 mm in diameter) and 44 (target: 20 mm in diameter) mm matched the theoretical values. However, this value did not correspond with the 10-mm-diameter target. The SBR matched the theoretical value with an ROI of > 44 mm in the 20-mm-diameter target; but, it was under- and overestimated under any other conditions. Conclusion: These results suggested that an ROI should be 2-4 folds larger than the target size without PVE, and that the Southampton method was remarkably accurate.