There are several lasers available for office-based or suspension microlaryngoscopy laser procedures in the treatment of laryngeal diseases. Each has advantages and disadvantages given the depth of penetration per unit of power, absorption in water, spectral absorption characteristics, mode of delivery, safety, and cost. It is important to note that while the proper selection of indication of treatment based on a laser wavelength is critical, of equal importance is selecting the appropriate power setting, focal length (or spot size), and time of exposure. The photoangiolytic lasers precisely target hemoglobin within the microcirculation of the highly vascularized tissue and may have better hemostatic effects and preservation of surrounding normal tissue than the CO2 laser. Although the choice of laser is purely theoretical and cannot be accurately concluded which parameters of laser (wattage and pulse width) were best to use, photoangiolytic laser surgery is safe and effective for specific laryngeal lesions. In this review, indications for photoangiolytic laser procedures for various laryngeal diseases, laser settings and surgical techniques for specific laryngeal lesions including sulcus vocalis, laryngeal dysplasia, and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis will be introduced. Pros and cons of in-office laser surgery using photoangiolytic laser and flexible CO2 laser will also be addressed.

There are several lasers available for office-based or suspension microlaryngoscopy laser procedures in the treatment of laryngeal diseases. Each has advantages and disadvantages given the depth of penetration per unit of power, absorption in water, spectral absorption characteristics, mode of delivery, safety, and cost. It is important to note that while the proper selection of indication of treatment based on a laser wavelength is critical, of equal importance is selecting the appropriate power setting, focal length (or spot size), and time of exposure. The photoangiolytic lasers precisely target hemoglobin within the microcirculation of the highly vascularized tissue and may have better hemostatic effects and preservation of surrounding normal tissue than the CO2 laser. Although the choice of laser is purely theoretical and cannot be accurately concluded which parameters of laser (wattage and pulse width) were best to use, photoangiolytic laser surgery is safe and effective for specific laryngeal lesions. In this review, indications for photoangiolytic laser procedures for various laryngeal diseases, laser settings and surgical techniques for specific laryngeal lesions including sulcus vocalis, laryngeal dysplasia, and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis will be introduced. Pros and cons of in-office laser surgery using photoangiolytic laser and flexible CO2 laser will also be addressed.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ablation of the thyroid remnants using radioiodine (RI) after surgical removal of differentiated thyroid cancer could induce radiation-related salivary gland dysfunction. The purpose of this study is to review our experience with therapeutic sialendoscopy for RI-induced sialadenitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed medical charts of all patients with RI-induced sialadenitis treated with sialendoscopy retrospectively. The study included 14 patients who underwent sialendoscopy for the treatment of RI-induced sialadenitis after failing conservative management. RESULTS: 14 patients (11 women, 3 men) with a mean age of 43.8 years (range, 26-60) underwent interventional sialendoscopy for the treatment of RI-induced sialadenitis that is unresponsive to conservative management. Symptoms arising from the parotid gland were seen in 12 (86%) of patients, whereas symptoms arising from the submandibular gland were seen in 2 (14%). 7 patients (50%) presented symptoms in bilateral parotid or submandibular glands. The mean dose of RI was 203.2 mCi (range, 150-500) received as a single dose. The mean duration from RI ablation therapy to sialendoscopy was 11.1 months (range, 0.5-29). Sialendoscopy was possible in all patients. Ductal stenosis and mucus plugs and debris were the most common types of ductal pathology. Sialendoscopy improved the symptoms in 79% (11/14) of patients, with no serious complications reported in mean follow up of 4 months (range, 1-12). CONCLUSION: Therapeutic interventional sialendoscopy appears to provide symptom improvement in most patients. Sialendoscopy is effective tool for improving symptoms due to RI-induced sialadenitis in patients who are unresponsive to conservative managements.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iodine ; Mucus ; Parotid Gland ; Retrospective Studies ; Salivary Glands ; Sialadenitis ; Submandibular Gland ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Allergic rhinitis (AR) and rhinitis medicamentosa (RM) have different mucosal color and pathophysiology. To investigate whether the mucosal color and nasal blood flow are different between the diseases in spite of same symptoms, we designed this study. Materials and Methods: 20 patients with allergic rhinitis and 21 patients with rhinitis medicamentosa were compared with 20 normal volunteers using mucosal color grading and Laser Doppler flowmetry. The Laser Doppler flowmetry was performed with a Periflux 4001 (Perimed, Jrtlla, Sweden) and perfusion unit (PU), velocity unit (VU), and concentration Unit (CU) were measured. The Laser Doppler flowmetry data in AR and RM were compared with those of the normal subjects, and between AR and RM. RESULTS: The perfusion score of AR and RM were lower than the control (p<0.05) and it was statistically significant that the mucosal color of AR were pale and of RM were reddish, comparing to the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The nasal blood flow was decreased with AR and RM compared to control but the mucosal color of AR and RM were different because of the difference of pathophysiology of diseases. When diagnosing RM, observation of mucosal color and measurement of nasal blood flow will be helpful besides the history of long-term use of nasal decongestant.
Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry* ; Perfusion ; Rhinitis*

Xerostomia is a subjective sensation of a dry mouth which is frequently encountered in otorhinolaryngologic practice. There are a variety of salivary and nonsalivary causes of xerostomia such as side effects of medication, systemic disorders, radiation and Sjögren's syndrome. The patients with xerostomia have difficulties in chewing, swallowing, speaking, tasting and mataining oral hygiene. Because of the ageing population, and the concomitant increase in medicated individuals, otorhinolaryngologists can expect to be presented with xerostomia in an increasing number of patients in the coming years and therefore should be familiar with its diagnosis and treatment. A systematic approach should be needed to determine the etiology of xerostomia and the management of xerostomia should be multidisciplinary and multimodal. This review summarizes the current literature on the diagnosis, and complications of xerostomia, and on the management of patients with xerostomia.
Deglutition ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Mastication ; Mouth ; Oral Hygiene ; Saliva ; Sensation ; Xerostomia*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to analyze the results of the laryngeal framework surgery (LFS) in one institute during 12 years. We reviewed the present position of LFS in the phonosurgery field and discussed the prospects for this type of surgery in the future. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: One hundred seventy nine charts of patients who underwent LFS in Yongdong Severance hospital from 1992 to 2003 were reviewed. Types of procedures were made according to the classification/ nomenclature of European Laryngological Society. RESULTS: One hundred ninty seven operations had been performed during 12 years in 179 patients. Type I thyroplasty was the most common procedure (28.9%). Type I thyroplasty+Arytenoid adduction (26.4%), Type III thyroplasty (16.8%), Arytenoid adduction (15.2%), Injection medialization (11.2%), Type IV thryroplasty (1.5%) followed in the order of most commonly operated choices. Of 197 cases, 18 cases were revision. There was only one major complication (dyspnea). A variety of dysphonias, which include vocal fold paralysis (71.5%), various pitch problems (mutational dysphonia (14%), androphonia (1.1%)), glottal insufficiency (12.8%), and some cases of spasmodic dysphonia (0.6%), had been treated with LFS. CONCLUSION: Laryngeal framework surgery is a new type of surgery that aims to improve the voice by restructuring the laryngeal framework. This type of surgery has become increasingly popular, because it has been found to be safe and effective.
Dysphonia ; Humans ; Laryngoplasty ; Paralysis ; Treatment Outcome ; Vocal Cords ; Voice ; Voice Disorders

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Aging causes atrophy in mucosa of vocal folds, resulting in various deleterious changes in phonation. Eventually, these changes impair an elderly individual's ability to communicate with others and affect their quality of life. This investigation was carried out to determine the morphological characteristics of vocal folds in two different aged groups of rats, and to perform a validation of a rat model of age-related changes in larynx. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Larynges were obtained from 12 rats, of which 6 rats were 6 months old and the others 18 months old. The middle portion of each vocal folds were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson's trichrome (MT), Alcian blue (AB) and compared. RESULTS: Extracellular matrix in lamina propria of vocal folds presented lower density in 18 months-old rats than in 6 months-old rats (p<0.05). Also more severe fibrosis was observed in 18 months-old rats than in 6 months-old rats (p<0.05). Six months-old rats showed higer concentration of hyaluronic acid than did 18 months-old rats (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Aged vocal folds showed increased fibrosis and decreased density of collagen and hyaluronic acids in the lamina propria compared to young vocal fold.
Aged ; Aging ; Alcian Blue ; Animals ; Atrophy ; Collagen ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibrosis ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Larynx ; Mucous Membrane ; Phonation ; Quality of Life ; Rats ; Vocal Cords

Although tonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure in the otolaryngological department, subcutaneous emphysema after tonsillectomy is a rare complication. While most of the cases are benign and self-limiting, severe sequelae, such as tracheal compression, pneumopericardium, are possible. We present two patients with cervical emphysema after tonsillectomy, and focus on explaining the possible pathologic mechanisms, diagnosis, appropriate management, and nature course of cervical emphysema after tonsillectomy.
Diagnosis ; Emphysema* ; Humans ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Pneumopericardium ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Tonsillectomy*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) damage commonly occurs from a thyroid surgery and causes communication impairment, aspiration and dysphagia. The purpose of this study is to develop a polycaprolactone (PCL) nerve guide conduit (NGC) coated with conductive materials for facilitating regeneration from the RLN defects and to evaluate the usefulness of the PCL NGC coated with conductive materials in a rabbit model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PCL NGCs coated with conductive materials were fabricated for this study. The types of conductive materials were single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) which were coated on the PCL NGCs by layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly techniques. An 8-mm segment of left RLN was resected in 24 New Zealand white rabbits. Three different NGCs (PCL and PCL with two conductive materials) were interposed between both stumps and fixed with suture. For the assessment of functional regeneration, the vocal cord mobility was observed using endoscopic system after RLN stimulation, and the motion change was analyzed. The atrophies of thyroarytenoid muscle and nerve growth were evaluated by Hematoxylin-Eosin (H-E) and toluidine blue (T-B) staining, respectively. Immunohistochemical study using anti-neurofilament, S-100 staining was further performed to evaluate the nerve regeneration. RESULTS: In endoscopic evaluation, the group with conductive PCL NGCs showed an improved tendency of vocal cord mobility compared to that of the other group. Nerve growth was observed with the time for 8 weeks in all groups and immunohistochemical staining revealed the expression of neurofilament and S-100 in regenerated nerve in all groups. The atrophies of thyroarytenoid muscle in the group with conductive PCL NGCs was also shown to be decreased compared to that of the nonconductive PCL NGC group. CONCLUSION: The study shows that PCL NGC coated with conductive materials appears to be a good alternative option for the repair and regeneration of RNL damages.
Atrophy ; Deglutition Disorders ; Laryngeal Muscles ; Nanotubes, Carbon ; Nerve Regeneration ; Polystyrenes ; Rabbits ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve* ; Regeneration* ; Sutures ; Thyroid Gland ; Tolonium Chloride ; Vocal Cords

Respiratory muscle training is one of the major methods for enhancing the vocal function. Singers who must use their voice most frequently are well aware of the importance of respiration. However, most of them do not know precisely how to exercise their abdominal respiration. Using a respiratory training device, singers are expected to gain more efficiency in their vocal enhancement. The aim of the study was to examine the pulmonary function, the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and the maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), and the maximum phonation time (MPT) in five female voice-majors students after undergoing specially programmed respiratory muscle training for 2 months. All the voice-majors had an average of 4.8 years of formal classical voice training. A respiratory muscle training device (Ultrabreathe (R) ), Tangent health Care Inc., England) was used to train the respiratory muscle. None of the pulmonary function test variables had changed after respiratory muscle training. However, the MIP, MEP, and MPT were significantly increased higher after the respiratory muscle training. This suggests that the specially programmed respiratory muscle training can improve the respiratory muscle strength and vocal function without increasing the pulmonary function.
Adult ; *Breathing Exercises ; Female ; Humans ; *Phonation ; Pressure ; Vital Capacity ; Voice