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Intralaryngeal injections of botulinum toxin (Botox), under electromyographic guidance, have emerged as an effective treatment for adductor spasmodic dysphonia. To remain effective, these injections must be repeated every 3 to 9 months as the symptoms recur. One drawback to the current method is the need for electromyographic confirmation of needle placement into the thyroarytenoid muscle. This report describes an anatomic approach to Botox injection that requires only flexible nasopharyngeal endoscopy and careful evaluation of the anatomic landmarks. This technique has been used successfully on 13 patients, and objective pretreatment and posttreatment measures are reported.

There are a variety of methods for treating unilateral vocal cord paralysis, but to date there have been few studies that compare these phonosurgical techniques by using objective measures of voice improvement. Vocal efficiency is an objective voice measure that is defined as the ratio of the acoustic power produced by the larynx to the subglottic air power. Vocal efficiency has been found to decrease with glottic disorders such as vocal cord paralysis and carcinoma. This study compared the effects of vocal fold medialization by surgical augmentation to those of arytenoid adduction on the vocal efficiency, videostroboscopy, and acoustics (jitter, shimmer, and signal-to-noise ratio) of a simulated unilateral vocal cord paralysis in an in vivo canine model. Arytenoid adduction was superior to surgical augmentation in vocal efficiency, traveling wave motion, and acoustics.

Observations of patterns of laryngeal dysfunction in patients with known as well as unrecognized neurological disease have provided the basis for a new classification. Representative patients are used to describe typical patterns of laryngeal dysfunction which occur with afferent and efferent (upper motor neuron, extrapyramidal, cerebellar and nuclear pathways) neurological disorders. The value of cinephotography in documenting and avoiding the pitfalls of brief indirect laryngoscopy is emphasized as a factor in achieving a correct diagnosis in patients with laryngeal diseases of central origin.

The diagnosis and management of carotid body tumors are discussed, including the importance of good arteriography which allows visualization of all major feeding vessels. These include the carotid bulb, internal and external carotid arteries and the often neglected but important vertebral and ascending cervical arteries. Emphasis is placed on the importance of establishing tourniquet control of the common, internal and external carotid arteries. Surgeons removing carotid body tumors should be experienced in arterial wall repair by means of vascular shunts, end-to-end arterial anastomosis, and vein graft replacement of a segment of arterial wall.

A comparison was made between the phase of vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) responses to sinusoidal rotatory tests and the phase of the subjective sensation (SS) to rotation. A parallelism was found between the results of both sets of data such that they behaved in accordance with the prediction of the pendulum model of vestibular function. The time constant of the VOR (17.5 seconds) was longer, however, than that of the SS (13 seconds). Measurements in patients with unilateral labyrinthine pathology also showed comparable changes in both responses. One group of patients with complete unilateral labyrinthine paralysis showed an advance of the phase of the VOR and of the SS. However, phase measurements in the group of patients with only partial unilateral labyrinthine paralysis were not significantly different statistically from those of normal subjects.

Myocutaneous flaps have become increasingly popular in reconstructive head and neck surgery. As surgeons have gained familiarity with them, many of the advantages, limitations, and complications of these flaps have become apparent. A rare but serious complication of myocutaneous flaps is recurrent tumor within the pedicle. Three cases of squamous cell carcinoma involving three different myocutaneous flaps are presented and the literature is reviewed. Possible mechanisms of tumor metastasis to myocutaneous flap pedicles are discussed. Surgeons must be aware of the possibility of tumor involvement of reconstructive flaps to facilitate early diagnosis and aggressive treatment.

Fibromatoses are uncommon, locally aggressive lesions that may involve the structures of the head and neck. They are most commonly found in and along the fascial planes of the neck muscles but can involve other structures, including the oral cavity, nose, nasopharynx or paranasal sinuses. An unusual case of an extra-abdominal desmoid tumor is presented and a review of the anatomical, clinical and pathological features of these tumors is discussed.

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal disease endemic to the southwestern United States. The primary form of the disease is relatively benign and many patients, after exposure by inhalation of the sapyrophytic form of the organism, convert from negative to positive skin testing without significant clinical symptoms. The less common disseminated form represents a serious life-threatening disease and can present with granulomatous changes in the larynx. The authors' experience with disseminated coccidioidomycosis presenting in the larynx of adults and infants successfully treated with amphotericin B are presented and discussed.

Flaccid laryngeal nerve paralysis may be treated by vocal fold augmentation with Teflon injection, which is successful to various degrees depending on the subjective interpretation of the patient or clinician. A new material, Phonogel, consisting of cross-linked bovine collagen, is available but not approved for human use in this area. Ten dogs were submitted to videostroboscopy, photoglottography, electroglottography, and acoustic analysis in the normal state, with simulated recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, and with injection of either Teflon or Phonogel. A statistical comparison and the advantages and disadvantages of each material are discussed in relation to this study and its clinical use.