IntroductionLaryngeal tuberculosis (LTB) is the most frequent granulomatous disease of the larynx and represents less than 2% of extrapulmonary TB cases. There are no pathognomonic clinical and endoscopic features of this disease and studies on LTB that can assist in its diagnostic characterization are lacking.ObjectiveTo identify factors associated with clinical and topographical features of LTB.Methoda retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from the medical records of 36 patients with confirmed LTB diagnosis.ResultsDysphonia and cough were the main symptoms presented by patients and the true vocal folds the most frequently affected site. The average of the duration of the disease evolution was significantly higher in patients with dysphonia than in patients without this symptom. We observed association between dysphonia and true vocal fold lesions and between odynophagia and lesions in the epiglottis, arytenoids and aryepiglottic folds. Odynophagia was more frequent in individuals with lesions in four or more laryngeal sites. Weight loss equal or above 10% of the body weight was more frequent in patients with odynophagia as first symptom and in patients with ulcerated lesion. Dyspnea on exertion was more frequent in individuals with more extensive laryngeal lesions. The percentage of smokers with lesions in four or more laryngeal sites was greater than that found in non-smokers. Laryngeal tissue fragment bacilloscopy and culture examinations were less positive than sputum ones.ConclusionsSmoking appears to be associated with the development of more extensive LTB lesions, and LTB with dyspnea on exertion and odynophagia with consequent impairment of nutritional status. We emphasize the need for histopathologic confirmation, once positive sputum bacteriological examinations seem not to necessarily reflect laryngeal involvement.

Tracheal wall thickening in PITS is due to a deranged collagen remodeling that is related to myofibroblast activation.

IntroductionLaryngeal tuberculosis (LTB) is the most frequent larynx granulomatous disease. In general there is lung involvement, but in an important proportion of cases you can find LTB without pulmonary disease. The lesions observed in LTB, such as ulceration and fibrosis, can interfere in the process of voice production. The involvement of the mucous lining of the vocal folds can change their flexibility and, consequently, change voice quality, and the main symptom is dysphonia present in almost 90% of cases.ObjectiveTo describe the anatomical characteristics and voice quality in LTB patients.Material and MethodA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 24 patients.ResultThe most frequently affected sites were vocal folds in 87.5% patients, vestibular folds in 66.7%, epiglottis in 41.7%, arytenoid in 50%, aryepiglottic folds in 33.3%, and interarytenoid region in 33.3% patients. We found 95.8% cases of dysphonia. The voice acoustic analysis showed 58.3% cases of Jitter alterations, 83.3% of Shimmer and 70.8% of GNE.ConclusionVoice disorders found in active laryngeal tuberculosis are similar to those reported after clinical healing of the disease, suggesting that sequelae and vocal adjustments may install during the active phase of the disease, negatively impacting the process of vocal quality reestablishment.

O carcinoma epidermóide da laringe é a sexta neoplasia mais comum, sendo uma das neoplasias malignas mais freqüen-tes na cabeça e pescoço, ocupando o segundo lugar imediatamente após o câncer da cavidade oral. Forma de estudo: Estudo clínico retrospectivo. Material e método: Entre os anos de 1991 e 2003, 24 pacientes portadores de lesões glóticas envolvendo a comissura anterior foram submetidos a laringectomia frontal anterior com epiglotoplastia descrita por Tucker e colaboradores no ano de 1979. Resultado: Nossos resultados confirmam aqueles encontrados em outras publicações. Não ocorreram mortes no pós-operatório e o seguimento foi relativamente simples. Todos os pacientes foram decanulizados e recuperaram um efetivo trato digestivo e aéreo. Conclusão: Nossos achados mostram que a laringectomia pela técnica de Tucker é uma cirurgia efetiva para o tratamento dos carcinomas glóticos que acometem a comissura anterior e a porção membranosa das cordas vocais com a motilidade preservada, pois tais lesões não devem ser tratadas pela ressecção endoscópica trans-oral ou por uma laringectomia fronto lateral. Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx is the sixth most common neoplasia, being the second neoplasia of the head and neck, after oral cancer. Study design: Retrospective clinical study chart review. Material and method: From 1991 to 2003, 24 patients whose glottic lesions involving anterior comissure were operated with a reconstructive anterior frontal laryngectomy with epiglotoplasty, such as described by Tucker et al in 1979. Results: Our functional results confirm those reported in the previous publications. There were no post-operative mortalities and follow-up was usually uncomplicated. All patients underwent decanulation and were able to eat by tract normal. Conclusion: Our findings show that partial laryngectomy by Tuckers technique is an effective surgical approach for glottic carcinoma at the anterior comissure and the membranous portion of both vocal cords; considering these lesions cannot be adequately managed with transoral endoscopic surgery resection or fronto lateral partial laryngectomy.Palavras-chave: laringectomia parcial, técnica de Tucker, laringectomia frontal anterior.