Voice disorder is classified into three categories, structural, neurogenic and functional dysphonia. Neurogenic dysphonia refers to a disruption in the nerves controlling the larynx. Common examples of this include complete or partial vocal cord paralysis, spasmodic dysphonia. Also it occurs as part of an underlying neurologic condition such as Parkinson's disease, myasthenia gravis, Lou Gehrig's disease or disorder of the central nervous system that causes involuntary movement of the vocal folds during voice production. Functional dysphonia is a voice disorder in the absence of structual or neurogenic laryngeal characteristics. A near consensus exist that Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) is functional voice disorder wherein hyperfunctional laryngeal muscle activity whereas Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is neurogenic, action-induced focal laryngeal dystonia including several subtype. Both Adductor type spasmodic dysphonia (AdSD) and MTD may be associated with excessive supraglottic contraction and compensation, resulting in a strained voice quality with spastic voice breaks. It makes these two disorders extremely difficult to differentiate based on clinical interpretation alone. Because treatment for AdSD and MTD are quite different, correct diagnosis is important. Clinician should be aware of the specific vocal characteristics of each disease to improve therapeutic outcome.

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may induce impairment of speech motor system. This review discusses the characteristics of dysarthria and symptom management for these conditions. Given the progressive nature of the neurodegenerative diseases, speech-language pathologists must be aware of appropriate augmentative and alternative communication equipment at the early stage of the disease course. Patients with neurodegenerative diseases can maintain functional communication with augmentative and alternative communication supports.

Background and Objectives : The purpose of this study was to compare the usefulness of Cepstral peak prominence (CPP) with parameter of Multiple Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP) in evaluating unilateral vocal fold paraylsis patients with subjective voice impairment. Materials and Methods : From July 2014 to August 2016, 37 patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis who had been diagnosed with unilateral vocal fold paralysis and had received two or more voice tests before and after the diagnosis were evaluated for maximum phonation time (MPT), MDVP and CPP. Respectively. Voice tests were performed with short vowel /a/ and paragraph reading. Results : The CPP-a (CPP with vowel /a/) and CPP-s (CPP with paragraph reading) of the Cepstrum were statistically negatively correlated with G, R, B, and A before the voice therapy. Jitter, Shimmer, and NHR of MDVP were positively correlated with G, R, B. Jitter, Shimmer, and NHR of the MDVP were significantly correlated with the Cepstrum index. G, B, A and CPP-a and CPP-s showed a statistically significant negative correlation and a somewhat higher correlation coefficient between 0.5 and 0.78. On the other hand, in MDVP index, there was a positive correlation with G and B only with Jitter of 0.4. Conclusion : CPP can be an important evaluation tool in the evaluation of speech in the unilateral vocal cord paralysis when speech energy changes or the cycle is not constant during speech.

Background and Objectives : High-speed videolaryngoscopy (HSV) is the only technique that captures the true intra-cycle vibratory behavior of the vocal folds by capturing full images of the vocal folds. However, it has problems of no immediate feedback during examination, considerable waiting time for digital kymography (DKG), recording duration limited to a few seconds, and extreme demands for storage space. Herein, we demonstrate a new post-processing method that converts HSV images to two-dimensional digital kymography (2D-DKG) images, which adopts the algorithm of 2D videokymography (2D VKG). Materials and Methods : HSV system was used to capture images of vocal folds. HSV images were post-processed in Kay image-process software (KIPS), and conventional DKG images were retrieved. Custom-made post-processing system was used to convert HSV images to 2D-DKG images. The quantitative parameters of the post-processed 2D-DKG images was validated by comparing these parameters with those of the DKG images. Results : Serial HSV images for all phases of vocal fold vibratory movement are included. The images were converted by the scanning method using U-medical image-process software. Similar to conventional DKG, post-processed 2D DKG image from the HSV image can provide quantitative information on vocal fold mucosa vibration, including the various vibratory phases. Differences in amplitude symmetry index, phase symmetry index, open quotient, and close quotient between 2D-DKG and DKG were analyzed. There were no statistical differences between the quantitative parameters of vocal fold vibratory movement in 2D-DKG and DKG. Conclusion : The post-processing method of converting HSV images to 2D DKG images could provide clinical information and storage economy.

Background and Objectives : The management of Reinke's edema includes usually medical treatment and voice therapy. Laryngomicrosurgery (LMS) is also necessary, especially to improve airway obstruction. However, voice outcome after LMS has not been determined well. The aim of this study was to evaluate effectiveness of LMS for Reinke's edema and analyze the voice outcomes after LMS. Materials and Methods : Twenty-five patients with Reinke's edema who underwent LMS from September 2007 to December 2016 were enrolled in this study. We analyzed reflux finding score (RFS), reflux symptom index (RSI), and acoustic parameters before and after surgery. Results : Male was 15 (60%) and female was 10 (40%), and mean age was 49.6 years. Preoperative mean value of RFS decreased significantly up to 3 months after LMS ($18.3{\pm}2.2$ and $10.0{\pm}2.2$ at preoperative and 3 months postoperatively, respectively). The mean value of Jitter decreased significantly before and after surgery ($2.71{\pm}2.81%$ and $1.06{\pm}1.21%$ before and after LMS, p=0.041). The mean value of Shimmer also decreased significantly before and after surgery ($7.97{\pm}3.63%$ and $4.83{\pm}1.85%$, respectively, p=0.006). Conclusion : LMS is effective in the treatment of Reinke's edema. It results in favorable acoustic outcomes and laryngoscopic findings in properly selected patients.

Background and Objectives : Adductor type spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) is neurogenic disorder and focal laryngeal dystonia, while muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) is caused by functional voice disorder. Both ADSD and MTD may be associated with excessive supraglottic contraction and compensation, resulting in a strained voice quality with spastic voice breaks. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of spectrogram analysis in the differentiation of ADSD from MTD. Materials and Methods : From 2015 through 2017, 17 patients of ADSD and 20 of MTD, underwent acoustic recording and phonatory function studies, were enrolled. Jitter (frequency perturbation), Shimmer (amplitude perturbation) were obtained using MDVP (Multi-dimensional Voice Program) and GRBAS scale was used for perceptual evaluation. The two speech therapist evaluated a wide band (11,250 Hz) spectrogram by blind test using 4 scales (0-3 point) for four spectral findings, abrupt voice breaks, irregular wide spaced vertical striations, well defined formants and high frequency spectral noise. Results : Jitter, Shimmer and GRBAS were not found different between two groups with no significant correlation (p>0.05). Abrupt voice breaks and irregular wide spaced vertical striations of ADSD were significantly higher than those of MTD with strong correlation (p<0.01). High frequency spectral noise of MTD were higher than those of ADSD with strong correlation (p<0.01). Well defined formants were not found different between two groups. Conclusion : The wide band spectrograms provided visual perceptual information can differentiate ADSD from MTD. Spectrogram analysis is a useful diagnostic tool for differentiating ADSD from MTD where perceptual analysis and clinical evaluation alone are insufficient.

Background and Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the criterion-related concurrent validity of two standardized auditory-perceptual assessments and the Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) for measuring dysphonia severity in patients with vocal cord paralysis (VCP). Materials and Methods : Total 210 patients with VCP and 236 normal voice subjects were asked to sustain the vowel [a:] and to read aloud the Korean text "Walk". A 2 second mid-vowel portion of the sustained vowel and two sentences (with 26 syllables) were recorded. And then voice samples were edited, concatenated, and analyzed according to Praat script. Two standardized auditory-perceptual assessment (GRBAS and CAPE-V) were performed by three raters. Results : The VCP group showed higher AVQI, Grade (G) and Overall Severity (OS) values than normal voice group. And the correlation among AVQI, G, and OS ranged from 0.904 to 0.926. In ROC curve analysis, cutoff values of AVQI, G, and OS were <3.79, <0.00, and <30.00, respectively, and the AUC of each analysis was over .89. Conclusion : AVQI and auditory evaluation can improve the early screening ability of VCP voice and help to establish effective diagnosis and treatment plan for VCP-related dysphonia.

Background and Objectives : The purpose of this study was to classify patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis according to their fixed location and to analysis the effects of two treatment methods by early voice therapy and injection laryngoplasty. Materials and Methods : Twenty patients who were classified as full abduction and slight abduction according to the position of paralysis were treated injection laryngoplasy, and 23 patients were treated by voice therapy. Twenty patients were treated injection laryngoplasy and 23 patients were treated voice therapy. Results were evaluated by acoustic analysis, electroglottography, cepstrum analysis before and after therapy. The voice therapy was conducted by improving the larynx movement and glottal contact, whilst removing hypertension of the supraglottic and use the breathing. Results : Significant improvement was found in the acoustic parameter, cepstrum parameter, and EGG before and after treatment in both groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups when compared before and after treatment to compare the effects of injection laryngoplasty and voice therapy. Conclusion : The initial treatments for unilateral vocal cord paralysis are injection laryngoplasty and voice therapy. however, there is no precise standard about which method should be applied first. Therefore, in this study, we tried to classify patients according to their paralysis position and then apply two methods. The results of this study suggest that voice therapy and Injection laryngoplasty at the initial stage is a very useful method to improve voice quality of vocal fold paralysis and improve laryngeal function.

Background and Objectives : In unilateral vocal fold paralysis (VFP), medialization thyroplasty (MT), arytenoid adduction (AA) and injection layrngoplasty (IL) are the most common procedures to correct phonatory problems. There is no consensus that which procedure is superior to the other for correcting the glottal insufficiency. The purpose of this study was to compare the phonatory parameters between MT, AA and AA with IL (AA+IL) in patients with unilateral VFP. Materials and Methods : This retrospective study enrolled patients from 2005 to 2016. Total 72 patients (49 male, 23 female, mean age 54.5 years) were classified into three groups ; MT (n=28), AA (n=12), and AA+IL (n=32). GRBAS scales, maximum phonation time (MPT), jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio (NHR), and voice handicap index (VHI)-10 and VHI-30 were preoperatively and postoperatively collected and compared between the three groups. Results : Age, gender and cause of VFP were not significantly different between the three groups. In MT and AA groups, MPT, VHI, G (overall grade) and B (breathiness) were significantly improved. In AA+IL group, jitter, shimmer, NHR, MPT, VHI, G and B were significantly improved. In analysis of differences (pre-postoperative values), ${\Delta}$ jitter (p<0.001), ${\Delta}$ shimmer (p=0.031), and ${\Delta}$ NHR (p=0.002) were significantly different and AA+IL group showed the greatest improvement. Conclusion : Analysis of voice parameters showed that all the three procedures for patients with unilateral VFP are effective in the improvement of voice ; especially in MPT, VHI-10, G and B scales. Compared to the others, AA+IL provided the better acoustic values including jitter, shimmer and NHR.

Background and Objectives : Contact granuloma is granulation tissue that occurs mainly in the vocal process of arytenoid cartilage. Among several etiological factors, gastric acid reflux is known to be an important cause. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical characteristics of contact granuloma and analyze the effectiveness of proton pump inhibitor in the treatment of contact granuloma. Materials and Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 40 patients who were treated with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for contact granuloma from January 2011 to December 2015. Reflux finding score (RFS), reflux symptom index (RSI) and size of granuloma were evaluated before and after treatment serially to assess the effectiveness of proton pump inhibitor. Results : Of 40 patients, 25 patients (62.5%) and 10 patients (25%) showed improvement and partial improvement of granuloma, respectively. Five patients showed no response. The mean times of partial improvement and improvement were $2.08{\pm}2.23$ months and $4.60{\pm}2.77$ months, respectively and mean duration of PPI treatment was $6.8{\pm}5.2$ months. Conclusion : Proton pump inhibitors is effective in the treatment of contact granuloma.

Sarcomatoid carcinomas are biphasic tumors which have surface epithelial changes and an underlying spindle-shaped neoplastic proliferation. A 62-year-old male with hoarseness came to our hospital for evaluation. A single smooth polypoid lesion was detected on his right true vocal fold by larnygoscope. The patient was diagnosed with vocal polyp and treated with surgical excision. Pathology report of the excised specimen was compatible with sarcomatoid carcinoma. Therefore, further surgical resection was performed to secure safety margins. We report a case of a sarcomatoid carcinoma patient who was clinically diagnosed as vocal polyp.

Sulcus vocalis remains a surgical challenge despite many recent advances in laryngomicrosurgeries. We previously reported that 585-nm Pulsed dye laser (PDL) exerts favorable outcome in treatment of sulcus vocalis due to its therapeutic effects of collagen rearrangement and improved wound remodeling. In spite of the usefulness of PDL glottoplasty for treating sulcus vocalis, the device is no more available in the country. It prompted us to focus another angiolytic laser ; 532-nm KTP laser which has similar mechanisms of action and has been used for treatment of other laryngeal lesions elsewhere. Herein, we present a case of sulcus vocalis successfully treated with KTP laser. A patient underwent laryngomicrosurgery with angiolytic KTP laser (KTP glottoplasty) by the same surgical procedure with PDL glottoplasty. After the surgery, the patient presented improved voice outcome in time without complications.

We describe a case of venous malformation of pyriform sinus in 63 year-old patient, discovered incidentally. Venous malformation are the most common vascular malformations to arise in the head and neck. However venous malformation of the hypopharynx in the adult papulation are rare. The author performed successfully ethanol sclerotherapy for venous malformation of pyriform sinus, so we present the case with a review of the related literatures.

Pharyngeal and laryngeal foreign bodies are common problem at ENT clinic. Removal of a foreign body is mostly simple with the manipulation of endoscope and various instruments. Rarely, migration of swallowed sharp foreign body makes complication. We describe a 74-year-old patient diagnosed with foreign body in larynx involving thyroid. In this case, we present this disease and the treatment course which has been successfully treated by surgical removal and conservative treatment. Furthermore, we discuss its symptoms, physical examinations through literature review.

Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common salivary gland neoplasm and most of them arise in the parotid gland. Pleomorphic adenomas at other sites than salivary glands have rarely been reported. We experienced a patient with pleomorphic adenoma of larynx. A 59 year-old female patient visited outpatient clinic complaining of voice change and foreign body sensation. Round mass at right vocal process was found in laryngoscopic exam. We performed laryngoscopic microsurgery to remove the tumor. Histologically, it was diagnosed as pleomorphic adenoma. Recurrence or complication did not occur during the follow up period of 3 years.

Laryngeal neoplasm is the second most common malignancy of the upper aerodigestive tract. About 85% to 95% of laryngeal malignancies are squamous cell carcinoma that arises from the epithelial lining of the larynx. The exact cause of laryngeal neoplasm is unknown, but certain risk factors can affect the chances of developing it. Chronic inflammation is a mutagen factor confirmed in the carcinogenesis of various tumor. Inhalation injuries cause histopathologic damage to laryngeal mucosa and inflammation change. This long term inflammation may leads to the development of dysplasia and malignant transformation. Recently, we experienced a case of malignant transformation of laryngeal mucosa after inhalation injury patient 25 years ago. Herein, we reported this rare case and review the relevant literature.