A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ULTRASOUND AND FLEXIBLE FIBEROPTIC LARYNGOSCOPE FOR VOCAL CORD ASSESSMENT.

Dr.Shubhra Rathore; Dr. Ashish Varghese; Dr. Bejoy Philip Varughese

Volume : VII, Issue : XI, November - 2018

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ULTRASOUND AND FLEXIBLE FIBEROPTIC LARYNGOSCOPE FOR VOCAL CORD ASSESSMENT.

Dr. Shubhra Rathore, Dr. Ashish Varghese, Dr. Bejoy Philip Varughese

Abstract :

Introduction: Flexible fieoptic laryngoscopy (FFL) is currently the gold standard technique used for examining the vocal cords. It is associated with minor discomfort and can be challenging in young children. Ultrasound being a non–invasive technique, has been studied as an alternative, inexpensive, rapid and painless method which can be done for evaluation of vocal cords. In this study we compared the assessment of vocal cords using ultrasound and flexible fieoptic laryngoscopy.

Materials and Methods: Vocal cords of 200 patients were assessed, first with fieoptic laryngoscopy and then with ultrasound. Parameters including vocal cord position, movement during phonation, length of vocal cords and presence of any abnormality were compared and statistically analysed with those with fieoptic laryngoscopy.

Result: Position of vocal cords was correctly assessed with ultrasound as normal in 99.42% and abnormal in 0.5% patients. Ultrasound rightly assessed mobility of right and left vocal cords as normal in 99.42% and 98.84% and abnormal in 0.58% and 1.1% respectively. Vocal cord polyps were successfully identified in all patients while vocal nodules in 3.49% and 4.07% of patients in the right and left vocal cord respectively and failed to detect vocal cord nodules in 0.58% of patients. Mean duration (60.9 ± 7.31sec, vs 45.8 . ± 13.28sec; p<0.0001), median time taken (60 sec vs 50 sec) and time range of procedures (10–90 secs vs 60–120 secs) were shorter in the ultrasound arm respectively.

Conclusion: Ultrasound is a well tolerated technique for assessment of vocal cord mobility, presence of polyps and nodules, though thyroid cartilage calcification may impair visualization in some. It is a fast alternative with added feature of assessing extra laryngeal strurctures.