Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 29, 2025
07:22
Minimally Invasive Murine Laryngoscopy for Close-Up Imaging of Laryngeal Motion During Breathing and Swallowing
Published on: December 1, 2023
687
Revisiting CT Signs of Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis: A Single, Blinded Study
M H Bashir1, C Joyce2, A Bolduan3
1From the Department of Radiology (M.H.B., V.S.) Mariah.Bashir@lumc.edu.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|March 25, 2022
Summary
Computed tomography (CT) signs for vocal cord paralysis lack validation. Medial displacement and ventricular dilation showed promise, but overall accuracy was limited, questioning CT
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Otolaryngology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Computed tomography (CT) signs are often used to indicate vocal cord paralysis.
- These signs have not been previously validated in a blinded manner.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate CT signs for vocal cord paralysis.
- To determine the accuracy of CT findings in predicting vocal cord paralysis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of CT scans from patients with and without vocal cord paralysis.
- Three radiologists, blinded to patient laryngeal function, assessed CT scans for 8 accepted signs.
- Statistical analysis included odds ratios and Fleiss κ for diagnostic accuracy.
Main Results:
- Medial displacement of the posterior ipsilateral vocal fold margin and ipsilateral laryngeal ventricular dilation had the highest positive predictive value.
- Other signs had high specificity, but interrater reliability was low.
- Overall sensitivity and negative predictive values were low.
Conclusions:
- CT findings are not as accurate for predicting vocal cord paralysis as previously suggested.
- The reliability of CT signs for vocal cord paralysis is questionable due to interrater discrepancies.
