Endoscopic diagnosis of vocal fold scarring

Abstract

Vocal fold scarring is a fibroplastically acquired anomaly of the pliable vocal fold cover resulting from surgery, trauma or repetitive inflammation which causes vocal impairment due to abnormal vocal fold vibration. For diagnosis of vocal fold scarring, vocal fold vibration should be examined by stroboscopic videolaryngoscopy or high-speed videolaryngoscopy. In these procedures, reduced amplitude and traveling wave, phase shift between the vocal folds, and glottal closure insufficiency are observed. Imaging analysis methods include multi-line videokymography showing the time-series change of vocal fold vibration and laryngotopography showing differences in vibration at various points of the vocal fold. In cases where endoscopic diagnosis does not correspond with the dysphonic symptoms, further examination is important, keeping the possibility of vocal fold scarring in mind.