• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 2020

Evaluating the patient's voice before thyroidectomy is useful for the purpose of identifying patients with vocal cord paralysis without symptoms, identifying other patient's voice abnormalities, and whether it is related to voice disorders that may occur after surgery. Also voice evaluation after thyroid surgery is helpful in diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation and follow-up of voice disorders that occur without clear nerve damage after thyroidectomy. And it is helpful for rapid recovery through active early rehabilitation treatment for patients who complain of speech impairment without paralysis. In particular, neck exercise can improve the adhesion of the surgical site and increase the range of motion of the neck as well as improve subjective neck discomfort. In addition, hearing, voice and breathing functions should be improved, and voice hygiene education and counseling should be provided. Vocal cord injection is the first treatment option for unilateral vocal cord palsy. By establishing a protocol for voice disorders before and after thyroid surgery and providing appropriate treatment, the quality of life of patients can be improved.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.122-128
• /
• 2007

This study aims to analyze the voices of the patients with voice disorders including vocal fold paralysis, vocal fold cyst and vocal nodule/polyp in the aspect of acoustic phonetics. This study intends to collect subsidiary acoustic data in order to make a speech treatment and an standardization of vocal disorders. Subjects and Methods: The subjects of this study were 64 adult patients who underwent indirect laryngoscopy and laryngostroboscopy, and were diagnosed as vocal fold paralysis, vocal fold cyst or vocal nodule/polyp. Experimental group consisted of 20 patients who were diagnosed as vocal fold paralysis, 21 patients who were diagnosed as vocal fold cyst and had the average age of 42.0 $({\pm}10.03)$ ; and 23 patients who were diagnosed as vocal nodule/polyp and had the average age of 40.9 $({\pm}13.75)$. For the methodology of this study, the patients listed above were asked to sit in a comfortable position at intervals of 10cm apart from the patient's mouth and a microphone, and subsequently to phonate a vowel sound /e/ for the maximum phonation time with natural tone and vocal volume then the sound was directly inputted on a computer. During recording, sampling rate was set to 44,100Hz and the 1-second area corresponding to stable zone except the first and the last stage of waveform of the vowel sound /e/ vocalized by the individual patients was analyzed. Results: First, there was no statistically significant difference in jitter and shimmer between vocal fold paralysis and vocal fold cyst, while there was highly statistically significant difference in them between vocal fold paralysis and vocal nodule/polyp. Second, looking into the mean values obtained from NNE, HNR and SNR results associated with noise ratio, the disease showing the most abnormal characteristics was vocal fold paralysis, followed by cyst and nodule/polyp in order. For NNE, there was statistically significant difference between vocal nodule/polyp, and cyst or paralysis. In other words, it was found that the NNE of vocal nodule/polyp was weaker than that of cyst or paralysis. Similarly, HNR and SNR also showed the same characteristics; there was statistically significant difference between vocal fold paralysis and vocal fold cyst or nodule/polyp, and HNR and SNR values of vocal fold paralysis were lower than those of vocal fold cyst or nodule/polyp. Conclusion: For vocal fold paralysis, the abnormal values of acoustic parameters associated with frequency, amplitude and noise ratio were statistically significantly higher than those of vocal fold cyst and nodule/polyp. This finding suggests that the voices of the patients with vocal fold paralysis are the most severely injured due to less stability of vocal fold movement, asymmetry and incomplete glottic closure. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in the acoustic parameters of tremor among vocal fold paralysis, vocal fold cyst and vocal nodule/polyp. Further studies need to ascertain reasonable acoustic parameters with various vocal disorders as well as to clarify the correlation between acoustics-based objective tools and subjective evaluations.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
• /
• 1977.06a
• /
• pp.6.2-7
• /
• 1977

Hoarseness, caused by any condition that interfers with normal phonatory function of larynx, is the most important symtom of the laryngeal disease. The air pollution is the serious social problom today due to irritation of the respiratory mucosa and secondary respiratory disease. It is significant to study whether, in resent years, the patients with complant of hoarseness has being increased or decreased, compare to past years. The authors report a statistical analysis on 400 cases with chief complain of horseness at the Department of Otolaryngology, Hanil Hospital during past 7 years from Jan. I, 1970 to Dec. 31, 1976. The results were as follows; 1) Among total out patients of 14, 731 who visited to the department of otolaryngology, the patients with hoarseness numbered to 400(2.7%). 2) Among total of 400 cases, male were 211 and female were 189. The incidence was slightly higher in male than female with ratio 1.1 to 1 in sex distribution. 3) The uderlying diseases causing hoarseness in order of frequency were Acute Laryngitis (158 cases, 39.5%), Chronic Laryngitis (103 cases, 27.3 %), Vccal Nodule (37 cases, 9.3%), Vocal cord paralysis (34 cases, 8.5%), Laryngeal Polyp (32 cases, 8%), Laryngeal Ca. (13 cases, 3.5%), and Laryngeal Tbc. (9 cases, 2.3%). Particulary, Laryngeal Ca., Laryngeal polyp and Laryngeal Papilloma were extremely high in male but the remainings were equally distributed in sex group distribution. 4) The highest incidence occurred in 3rd decade (113 cases, 28.5%), the next 4th and 2nd decade in the age group distribution. Acute and Chronic Laryngitis were widely distributed in age group distribution but the highest incidence was noted between 3rd and 4th decade (145 cases, 55.5%). The highest incidence was 3rd decade in Laryngeal polyp, 3rd and 4th decade in Vocal Nodule, 4th and 5th decade in Laryngeal Tbc. and Vocal cord paralysis and 5th decade in Laryngeal Ca. 5) The underlying disease causing hoarsness were evenly occurred in monthly distribution but relatively high incidence was observed between April and June (35.5%) compared to winter. 6) In durational distribution, the highest incidence was within 10 days (26%) from onset to consultation. 317 cases (80%) were visited to the clinic within 1 year.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.118-122
• /
• 2017

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.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.30-34
• /
• 2018

Niemann Pick type C disease (NPC) is an inherited progressive neurodegenerative disorder, due to defects of intracellular lipid trafficking and storage. Hepatosplenomegaly may prevail, while progressive neurodegenerative symptoms such as cerebellar involvement, dystonia, vertical supranuclear ophthalmoplegia, cataplexy, and eventually seizures starting at juvenile or late infantile period may accompany after normal early development. Here we describe a 3-year-old Korean boy with NPC who presented with splenomegaly at age 3. Liver biopsy showed characteristic foamy cell stained by periodic acid-schiff, and molecular analysis for NPC1 identified the compound heterozygous mutations, novel mutation of c.1631G>A (p.Trp544Ter) and c.2662C>T (p. Pro888Ser) as a known mutation. Filipin was strongly stained with unesterified cellular cholesterol in the patient's skin fibroblasts. The patient has received migulstat since age 3 years and his long-term outcome is needed to be observed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.113-117
• /
• 2005

Background and Objective : Vocal fold augmentation by injectable material under direct visual control is an easy and simple operation. However, when autologous fat or bovine collagen is used, the resoiption creates a problem. And autologous fascia is debating about absorption now days. We previously reported on the one year results of injected autologous auricular cartilage for volumetric augmentation in paralyzed canine vocal cord. This study evaluates the long-term histomorphologic results of injected autologous auricular cartilage for the augmentation of the paralyzed canine vocal fold at two year. Material and Methods . A prospective trial of autologous cartilage augmentation of vocal cord in animal model. Three dogs were operated upon. A piece of auricular cartilage was harvested from the ear and minced into tiny chips with a scalpel. Fat was harvested from inguinal area and minced with a scalpel. The minced cartilage and fat-paste (0.2ml) was injected using a pressure syringe into the paralyzed thyroarytenoid muscle using direct laryngoscopy. Three animals were sacrificed at 2 years. Each subject underwent laryngectomy and serial coronal sections of paraffin blocks from the posterior vocal fold were made. Results There was no significant complication perioperatively and during follow-up. The injected cartilage which appeared to have lost viability existed in the vocalis muscles until 24 months. Fibrotic change was exhibited in the surrounding injected cartilage. Conclusion : The autologous auricular cartilage graft is well tolerated and may be very effective material for volumetric augmentation on paralyzed vocal cord.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.59 no.2
• /
• pp.209-212
• /
• 2005

Sarcoidosis, a multisystemic granulomatous disorder of unknown causes, which presents with bilateral hilar adenopathy, pulmonary infiltration, and cutaneous, ocular, bones, and nervous and reticuloendothelial systems involvement, commonly involves young adults of both sexes. Herein, the case of a 70-year-old male, with progressive hoarseness of two weeks' duration and mild dyspnea, is reported. A fiberoptic bronchoscopy, performed to investigate the hoarseness, revealed paralysis of the left vocal cord, but with no other local abnormality. Two nodules, as pathologic findings, showed noncaseating epithelioid cell granulomas. We note a rare case of sarcoidosis, with vocal cord palsy, in Korea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.10
• /
• pp.1148-1151
• /
• 1996

For the purpose of clinical analysis In mediastinal tumors, 51 patients with mediastinal tumor who were surgically treated from February 1984 to February 1994 in Chunan hospital of Soonchunhyang university were reviewed. There were 21 male and 30 female patients in the study. Age ranges from 11 months to 75 years, with the mean 39.4$\pm$ 18.8 years. Symptoms and signs were asymptom(21.6%), chest d scomfort(19.6%), dyspnea(15.7%), ptosls(15.7%), general weakness(13.7%) and chest pain(9.8%). The most frequent tumor location was anterosuperior mediastinum(60.8%) followed by posterior(25.5%) and middle(13.7%) mediastinum. In the pathological viewpoint, thymoma(33.3%) was the most frequent type followed by neurogenic tumor(25.5%) an'd germ cell tumor(19.6%). All of benign tumors(46 cases) were completely removed and malignant tumors(5 cases) were treated with rAdiotherapy after operation. The postoperative complications were 2 wound dehesences, 1 pneumothorax, 1 vocal cord palsy and 1 prolonged mechanical ventilation.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 1998

Objectives, Materials & Methods: To prevent deterioration of postoperative voice due to iatrogenic transection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during the thyroid surgery, intraoperative medialization of the membranous vocal cord by type I thyroplasty together with direct epineurial neurorraphy was done on 2 cases of benign thyroid lesion. To improve the quality of voice together with complete removal of advanced thyroid carcinoma, intraoperative vocal cord medialization on the lesion side together with total thyroidectomy was done by type I thyroplasty in 2 cases and combined procedure by arytenoid adduction and type I thyroplasty in another 2 cases. Results: The resultant voice of the iatrogenic injury cases was relatively tolerable. The voice of the combined procedure was better than that of type I thyroplasty cases for the intraoperative rehabilitation cases. Not only for the preoperative evaluation of the severity of the nerve lesion but also the prognosis will be expected by use of laryngeal EMG in the cases of thyroid cacer with vocal cord palsy. Conclusion: Intraoperative simultaneous rehabilitation for the vocal cord palsy during thyroid surgery is beneficial for the patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.33 no.7
• /
• pp.565-569
• /
• 2000

Background; Post-intubation injury is known to be the most common cause of tracheal stenosis. Treatment strategy for tracheal stenosis varies accoring to the extent of pathologic lesion. Focal mucosal lesion can be treated with laser photoablation, but full thickness tracheal lesion should be treated with resection and anastomosis. Material and Method; From Aptil 1998 to May 1999, twelve patients suffering from tracheal stenosis as a complication of endotracheal intubation were managed by resection and end-to-end anastomosis in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Gyeongsang National University Hospital. Result; There was no operative mortality. Five temporary vocal cord paralysis and one wound infection occurred as early complications. During 18 months of follow-up, re-stenosis was not found. Conclusion; Tracheal resection and anastomosis can be considered as an excellent surgical treatment for tracheal stenosis which developed as a complication of endotracheal intubation.