Objectives: This study is set to analyze clinicopathological factors predicting the recovery of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVP) in patients after thyroid gland surgery. The quality of voice was additionally assessed in these patients. Methods: The charts and videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS) examinations of 84 consecutive patients with a complete UVP after surgery of the thyroid gland were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: patients who fully recovered from vocal fold paralysis and those who failed to recover after a follow-up of 12 months. The quality of voice was analyzed among other things by determining the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Results: The UVP fully recovered in 52 of 84 (61.9%) patients. Positive mucosal waves (pMWs) on the paralyzed side, a minimal glottic gap <3 mm seen at the first postoperative VLS, age ≤50 years, and surgery duration ≤120 minutes were associated factors for a complete recovery of nerve function. The voice parameters improved independently from recovery of the paralysis in 90% of the patients. Conclusions: For patients with a poor prognosis of a UVP, early intervention may be beneficial. Thus, predicting factors for a full recovery of vocal fold motion would be a valuable tool. In our cohort, about 60% of recoveries could have been predicted using the above-mentioned parameters. Good quality of voice was independently reached in 90% of the cases.

Background Dysphagia as a sequel and possible early sign of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is caused by progressive impaired bulbar motor function. Objective To evaluate bulbar motor dysfunction in patients suffering from ALS compared to a healthy reference group. Methods A clinical study and prospective group comparison was designed. Patients and healthy volunteers were examined in the outpatient clinic of our university medical center. Ten patients with ALS and 20 healthy volunteers were included. All participants underwent a flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and a manometric measurement of the maximal sub‐palatal atmospheric pressure generated by suction as well as of the prevalent pressure during swallowing. Additionally, the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ) was completed by all participants to score the self‐rated extent of dysphagia. Results Comparing maximal suction pressures, the group of patients showed significantly lower values (p < .001). There was a significant correlation between reduced pressures and the degree of dysphagia (SSQ score) (r = −0.73). Conclusions As the oral cavity is an easily accessible compartment of the upper digestive tract, manometric measurements might serve as a simple instrument in order to detect or to monitor bulbar motor dysfunction. Oral manometry may facilitate early detection and monitoring of dysphagia in ALS. Larger studies are required to confirm our findings.

ZusammenfassungSubglottische Pathologien sind sehr selten und manifestieren sich mit einem unspezifischen klinischen Erscheinungsbild in Form einer Gewebevermehrung auf Höhe des Ringknorpels bzw. der cranialen Trachea, was die Diagnose verschleiert. Typische Symptome solcher Patienten sind Heiserkeit, Reizhusten, ein Fremdkörpergefühl sowie Dyspnoe bzw. Stridor. Differenzialdiagnostisch kommen verschiedene Erkrankungen in Frage: Benigne Erkrankungen wie Folgen eines Traumas (z. B. Stenosen), Entzündungen (z. B. Pseudokrupp), rheumatische Erkrankungen (z. B. Granulomatose mit Polyangiitis) oder gutartige Tumore (z. B. Papillom, Hämangiom oder Granularzelltumor). Auch maligne Erkrankungen wie z. B. ein Plattenepithelkarzinom des Larynx, ein Chondrosarkom oder sehr selten eine laryngeale Lymphommanifestation müssen differenzialdiagnostisch in Erwägung gezogen werden. Idiopathische Formen ohne erkennbare Ursache sind ebenfalls denkbar. Zur Diagnosesicherung wird bei tumorösen Veränderungen in der Regel eine Probeexzision mit histologischer Aufarbeitung durchgeführt. Die Therapie erfolgt in Abhängigkeit vom histologischen Ergebnis – bei soliden tumorösen Erkrankungen üblicherweise chirurgisch oder durch eine Lokal- bzw. Systemtherapie im interdisziplinären Kontext.

Objective: The efficiency of laryngovideostroboscopy (LVS) in detecting premalignancies of the vocal fold and early glottic cancer was determined in a prospective monocentric study. In addition, the recovery rate of the mucosal membrane on the vocal fold after surgical intervention was determined by LVS. Methods: We included 159 patients with a leukoplakia of the vocal folds and 50 healthy controls. Clinicopathological data and LVS characteristics (amplitude, mucosal wave, nonvibratory segment, glottic closure, phase symmetry, periodicity) at the lesion site were obtained and compared with the histopathological results. LVS parameters were recorded before cordectomy and in a 12-month follow-up interval. Patients who had prior laryngosurgery, radiotherapy, or laryngeal scarring were excluded. Results: Absent or greatly reduced mucosal waves were found in all patients with an invasive carcinoma, in 94% with a severe intraepithelial neoplasia (SIN III), in 38% with a moderate squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (SIN II), in 32% with a mild squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (SIN I), and in 23% with a hyperkeratosis without dysplasia. The sensitivity and specificity of LVS in predicting an invasive carcinoma based on the absence or reduction of mucosal waves was 0.96 and 0.90, respectively. Following surgical intervention, the recovery rate of the mucosal wave and amplitude was 12% in the invasive carcinoma group, 36% in the SIN III group and up to 80% for both these parameters in the SIN I, SIN II, and hyperkeratosis groups. Conclusion: LVS is a valid tool to identify early glottic carcinoma and its high risk premalignancy carcinoma in situ (CIS). Even when there is no definitive differentiation between SIN I and II, the invasive character of a CIS and an invasive glottic carcinoma can be identified. Especially strobosopic signs of abnormal amplitude and/or mucosal waves, particularly phoniatric halt, are an early indication for a CIS or an invasive carcinoma.