Usefulness of Two-Dimensional Digital Kymography in Patients With Vocal Fold Scarring

Although laryngeal videostroboscopy is widely utilized in the analysis of vocal fold vibrations, it is often difficult to identify patterns of vocal fold vibrations in patients with aperiodic voice signals due to failure of synchronization during laryngeal videostroboscopy examination. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the usefulness of simultaneous two-dimensional digital kymography (2D DKG) and traditional DKG for the detection of changes in the pattern of vocal fold vibrations in patients with vocal fold scarring (VFS).

Seven patients with VFS and one normal subject underwent high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV). DKG and 2D DKG evaluations of vocal fold vibrations were performed simultaneously, following which both qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed.

Simultaneous DKG and 2D DKG enabled observation of vibratory patterns as well as amplitude and phase symmetry. DKG revealed and provided temporal information regarding the pattern of vocal fold vibrations at sites of VFS. In contrast, 2D DKG provided real-time information regarding the pattern of vibrations for the whole vocal fold region and regions of increased stiffness, as well as spatial information regarding changes in this pattern.

Our findings indicate that 2D DKG enables the assessment of overall vocal fold vibrations, regardless of periodicity, and that simultaneous DKG and 2D DKG can be used to confirm abnormal patterns of vocal fold vibrations in patients with impaired flexibility and elasticity of the vocal folds.