The task of the present study was to investigate the relationship between parameters and factors predictive of voice quality and to suggest treatment guidelines for patients suffering from vocal polyps. In total, 158 patients diagnosed with vocal polyps and who received voice therapy were enrolled. Clinicomorphological factors such as size, location, color, and type of the polyp were evaluated. Perceptive and acoustic voice evaluation was conducted and the relationship of these voice parameters with clinicomorphological factors was analyzed. Additionally, factors favorable for voice therapy were investigated. GRBAS scale grade was closely related to acoustic parameters, such as jitter and shimmer. Univariate analysis showed the size of the polyp, the color of the vocal fold, a history of voice abuse, associated muscle tension dysphonia (MTD), and opposing reactive scar affected voice quality. In multivariate analysis, only the size of the polyp was associated with voice quality. The patients in whom the voice quality improved with voice therapy initially had smaller polyps and whitish-colored vocal folds. Results of the present study indicate that although the most influential factor on voice quality in vocal polyp patients was the size, several other factors should be considered in evaluating and treating vocal polyps. The size of the polyp and the color of the vocal fold are indicative of success or failure in voice therapy.

Colchicine is an alkaloid widely used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as gout. It suppresses cell division by inhibiting mitosis. We investigated the anticancer effects of colchicine on human hypopharyngeal cancer cells and the mechanisms underlying its anticancer effects. XTT cell proliferation assay showed that colchicine inhibited the growth and proliferation of human hypopharyngeal cancer cells (FaDu and SNU1041) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Colchicine also inhibited the migration, invasion, and adhesion of hypopharyngeal cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The levels of mRNA expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) decreased after treatment with colchicine. Further investigation revealed that colchicine inhibited the phosphorylation of the FAK/SRC complex and paxillin. Tumor volume ratios in colchicine-treated mice (0.1 mg/kg, every 2 days for 14 days) increased less than in control mice. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing that colchicine can suppress cell invasion, migration, and adhesion through reduced expression of MMP9, the uPA system, and the FAK/SRC complex. Colchicine has the potential to prevent disease progression in hypopharyngeal cancer and may have application as an adjunctive treatment.

A hemangioma of the parapharyngeal space (PPS) is an extremely rare tumor and is responsible for 0.5-1% of all tumors occurring in the PPS. We report a case of PPS venous hemangioma in a 49-year-old woman presenting with diffuse swelling in the submandibular region. A preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan showed a cystic mass with multiple calcifications in the PPS. The calcific nodules were round and about 2 mm in diameter. The hemangioma was completely resected via a transcervical approach. During surgery, we found several calcific nodules, which represented phleoboliths or areas of thrombosis with dystrophic calcification. Despite its rarity, a venous hemangioma of the PPS should be considered in a differential diagnosis when a cystic mass with calcification is found by CT scan. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a PPS venous hemangioma; we describe its pathognomonic findings on imaging.

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