Quantification of Vocal Fold Vibration in Various Laryngeal Disorders Using High-Speed Digital Imaging

To quantify vibratory characteristics of various laryngeal disorders seen by high-speed digital imaging (HSDI).

HSDI was performed on 78 patients with various laryngeal disorders (20 with polyp, 16 with carcinoma, 13 with leukoplakia, 6 with vocal fold nodule, and 33 with others) and 29 vocally healthy subjects. Obtained data were quantitatively evaluated by frame-by-frame analysis, laryngotopography, digital kymography, and glottal area waveform.

Overall, patients with laryngeal pathologies showed greater asymmetry in amplitude, mucosal wave and phase, smaller mucosal wave, and poorer glottal closure than vocally healthy subjects. Furthermore, disease-specific vibratory disturbances that generally agreed with the findings in the literature were quantified: comparing polyp with nodule, differences were noted in longitudinal phase difference, amplitude, and mucosal wave. In comparison with leukoplakia and cancer, nonvibrating area was more frequently noted in cancer.

The HSDI analysis of various voice disorders using multiple methods can help phonosurgeons to properly diagnose various laryngeal pathologies and to estimate the degree of their vocal disturbances.