Exploring autonomic dysfunction in functional dysphonia: A protocol for a case-control study and a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although psychological factors have been implicated in patients with functional dysphonia (FD), conventional voice therapy (CVT) typically targets the aberrant voice symptoms exclusively. Yet, CVT is not always successful, and in view of the significant adverse quality of life impact combined with the financial burden on the healthcare system and society, research is needed to elucidate the underlying psychophysiology of FD and improve treatment outcomes.

Objectives: The first objective of this research project is to compare the occurrence and frequency of symptoms and/or disorders related to autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction in patients with FD with gender- and age-matched vocally healthy controls, using a case-control study.

Consensus for voice quality assessment in clinical practice: guidelines of the European Laryngological Society and Union of the European Phoniatricians.

Introduction: To update the European guidelines for the assessment of voice quality (VQ) in clinical practice.

Methods: Nineteen laryngologists-phoniatricians of the European Laryngological Society (ELS) and the Union of the European Phoniatricians (UEP) participated to a modified Delphi process to propose statements about subjective and objective VQ assessments. Two anonymized voting rounds determined a consensus statement to be acceptable when 80% of experts agreed with a rating of at least 3/4.

Brain adaptation following various unilateral vocal fold paralysis treatments: A magnetic resonance imaging based longitudinal case series.

Aim: Examination of central compensatory mechanisms following peripheral vocal nerve injury and recovery is essential to build knowledge about plasticity of the neural network underlying phonation. The objective of this prospective multiple-cases longitudinal study is to describe brain activity in response to unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) management and to follow central nervous system adaptation over time in three patients with different nervous and vocal recovery profiles.

Materials And Methods: Participants were enrolled within 3 months of the onset of UVFP.

Neural Correlates of Healthy Sustained Vowel Phonation Tasks: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Neuroimaging Studies.

Objective: This review of the methodology and results of studies involving a sustained vowel phonation task during functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) aims to contribute to the identification of brain regions involved in phonation for healthy subjects.

Data Sources: This review was performed using the PubMed electronic database.

Review Methods: A review was conducted, according to PRISMA guidelines, between September and November 2020, using the following search term pairs: "fMRI and Phonation" and "fMRI and Voice.

Does the wearing of masks change voice and speech parameters?

Purpose: The authors aim to review available reports on the potential effects of masks on voice and speech parameters.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases through July 2021. Several targeted populations, mask scenarios and methodologies were approached.

A Systematic Review on Surgical Treatments for Sulcus Vocalis and Vocal Fold Scar.

Objectives/hypothesis: Vocal fold sulcus and scars are benign vocal fold lesions that present as a challenge to the laryngologist. A number of different surgical techniques have been proposed, aiming at restoring the lamina propria (LP), closing the glottal gap, or both. This study aimed to provide a systematic review of surgical treatment for sulcus and scar and to propose a new classification for these techniques.

Laryngeal Reinnervation: The History and Where We Stand Now.

Injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) can result in impairment of all three laryngeal functions. The RLN is capable of regeneration, but laryngeal functions in cases of severe injury remain impaired. This permanent impairment is caused by either incomplete regeneration and/or occurrence of laryngeal synkinesis.

Evolution of self-perceived swallowing function, tongue strength and swallow-related quality of life during radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients.

Background: Radiation-associated-dysphagia is a serious side effect of radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC).

Methods: Seventy-six patients had a weekly prospective follow-up from baseline until one week post-RT. Combined mixed model analysis (n = 43) determined the evolution of self-perceived swallowing function, isometric tongue strength (MIP), tongue strength (TS) during swallowing (Pswal), and quality of life (QoL) in these patients during RT.

Accuracy of Thyroid Cartilage Fenestration During Montgomery Medialization Thyroplasty.

Introduction: Accuracy of thyroid cartilage fenestration during Montgomery thyroplasty (MTIS) is considered a key success factor. The primary aim of the study was to retrospectively evaluate the accuracy of fenestration. Furthermore, recent publications indicate a possible discrepancy in MTIS voice outcomes related to gender.

The larynx ruler to measure height and profile of vocal folds: a proof of concept.

Introduction: Glottic leakage during phonation is a direct consequence of unilateral vocal fold (VF) paralysis. This air leakage can be in the horizontal plane and in the vertical plane. Presently, there is no easily applicable medical device allowing noninvasive, office-based measurement of the relative vertical position of the VFs.

Feasibility of tongue strength measurements during (chemo)radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of tongue strength measures (TSMs) and the influence of bulb location, sex, and self-perceived pain and mucositis in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients during chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Methods: Twenty-six newly diagnosed HNC patients treated with CRT performed anterior and posterior maximal isometric tongue pressures by means of the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI). The Oral Mucositis Weekly Questionnaire (OMWQ) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain during swallowing were completed weekly from baseline to 1 week post CRT.

Shape of Thyroid Cartilage Influences Outcome of Montgomery Medialization Thyroplasty: A Gender Issue.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether the shape of the thyroid cartilage and gender influence voice outcomes after a Montgomery thyroplasty implant system (MTIS).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on 20 consecutive patients who underwent MTIS. Voice outcome variables were the relative decrease in Voice Handicap Index (%) and the absolute increase in maximum phonation time (MPT) (in seconds).

The use of adalimumab for cricoarytenoid arthritis in ankylosing spondylitis--an effective therapy.

This report describes cartilaginous regeneration in a cricoarytenoid joint affected by spondyloarthropathy using tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) blockade, monitored by magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) imaging. This case is interesting for several reasons. It is only the eighth case of destructive ankylosing spondylitis-related cricoarytenoid arthritis published in the English language literature.

Primary combined squamous and small cell carcinoma of the larynx: Report of two cases and discussion of treatment modalities.

Combined small cell carcinoma (SMCC) of the larynx consists of SMCC admixed with a component of squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. These tumors are very rare and, to date, only a few cases have been fully described. This points out the lack of information available about the correct management of these patients.

Prevalence of lymph nodes in the apex of level V: a plea against the necessity to dissect the apex of level V in mucosal head and neck cancer.

Background: We assessed the prevalence of histologically proven normal or invaded lymph nodes in the apex of level V.

Methods: Seventy neck dissections were performed in 41 patients with mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Fifty-one neck dissections were performed in 30 previously untreated patients (group 1); 19 neck dissections were carried out in 11 patients previously irradiated (group 2).

Postcricoid hemangioma: an overlooked cause of dysphagia in infants?-a case report.

Feeding and swallowing disorders in children remain a major challenge owing to a wide differential diagnosis. Hemangioma of the upper aerodigestive tract represents one of the numerous non-neoplastic causes of dysphagia. We report two cases of postcricoid hemangioma causing inhalation and recurrent respiratory infections, treated successfully with systemic corticotherapy alone.

Predictive value of the fraction of cancer cells immunolabeled for proliferating cell nuclear antigen or Ki67 in biopsies of head and neck carcinomas to identify lymph node metastasis: comparison with clinical and radiologic examinations.

Background: Neck metastasis is a major prognostic factor of head and neck carcinoma, but its preoperative detection is currently unreliable. Molecular markers of the metastatic potential of a carcinoma would help to avoid unnecessary neck dissection in patients with nonmetastatic cancer.

Methods: The fractions of cancer cells immunostained for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki67 were determined in 80 preoperative biopsy specimens of head and neck carcinomas.

A proposal for redefining the boundaries of level V in the neck: is dissection of the apex of level V necessary in mucosal squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck?

In 1991, the Committee for Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery proposed to define the anatomic boundaries between the lymph node levels in the neck, as initially described by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York, NY). Recently, radiological parameters have been outlined to identify boundaries between various neck levels. The lymphatics of the posterior triangle of the neck are gathered in level V, recently subdivided into 2 subgroups: level Va and level Vb.