Outcomes of Self-Esophageal Dilation for Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Introduction Dysphagia is common following treatment for head and neck cancers, and self-esophageal dilation is a safe and effective treatment method. Prior studies on self-dilation have reported only qualitative results and included heterogeneous populations with dysphagia. The objective of this study is to quantitatively assess the safety and efficacy of a self-esophageal dilation program for patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer with treatment-induced dysphagia.

Effects of Resonance Voice Therapy on Hormone-Related Vocal Disorders in Professional Singers: A Pilot Study.

Background: Menstruation-related hormonal alteration can be detrimental to the professional singing voice of women. Resonance Voice Therapy (RVT) has been proven to improve vocal production. However, no research to date has been conducted examining the subjective, acoustic, and stroboscopic effects of RVT on professional female singers having premenstrual or postmenopausal voice disorders.

Interdisciplinary Telemedicine in the Management of Dysphagia in Head and Neck.

The study considered the feasibility and impact of interdisciplinary telemedicine discussions in the management of post-treatment dysphagia in patients with head and neck tumors. This is a retrospective analysis of patients with persistent dysphagia after treatment for head and neck pathology, at an institute in India. The cases were discussed in the telemedicine meeting conducted between host institute and a second unit in the United States.

Laryngeal Elevation Velocity and Aspiration in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Objectives: Aspiration after stroke has been associated with aspiration pneumonia, which contributes to increased mortality of stroke. Laryngeal elevation is a core mechanism for protection from aspiration. Few studies have explored the predictive value of laryngeal elevation velocity for aspiration after stroke.

Device Life of Two Generations of Provox Voice Prostheses.

Background: Tracheoesophageal voice prostheses are invaluable for speech rehabilitation in patients who have received total laryngectomy, but device failure impedes communication and creates psychosocial and financial burdens. This study compares the Provox 2 and Provox Vega voice prostheses on the parameter of device life.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of 21 patients with 181 device replacements at an academic tertiary care medical center.

ABCLOVE: Voice therapy outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer.

Background: Dysphonia related to head and neck cancer is unique, and demands treatment tailored to its unique pathology. Activate exercises, breathing, counseling, laryngeal manipulation, oral resonance, vocal exercises, and elimination of habits (ABCLOVE) is an 8-week multimodality voice therapy program addressing vocal rehabilitation specifically for patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients with a history of head and neck cancer were enrolled in the ABCLOVE program and outcomes were retrospectively reviewed.

Evaluation of swallow function after tongue cancer treatment using real-time magnetic resonance imaging: a pilot study.

Importance: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the advantage of imaging swallow function at any anatomical level without changing the position of patient, which can provide detailed information than modified barium swallow, by far the gold standard of swallow evaluation.

Objective: To investigate the use of real-time MRI in the evaluation of swallow function of patients with tongue cancer.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Real-time MRI experiments were performed on a Signa Excite HD 1.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the postcricoid region: a case report and literature review.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm that can present essentially anywhere in the body. Presentations in the hypopharynx are extremely rare with only two previous cases reported. We report the first case of postcricoid SFT occurring in a 58-year-old male requiring a microsuspension laryngoscopy excision following an unsuccessful transoral robotic attempt.