Comparison between rigid telescopic and flexible fiberoptic laryngostroboscopy.

OBJECTIVE

Stroboscopy can uncover significant laryngeal abnormalities in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Rigid telescope and flexible fiberscopy present differing advantages.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the stroboscopic findings observed using rigid telescopy to those obtained through fiberoptic examination.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted in order to evaluate 36 patients with PD from January 2018 to December 2019. The HY - Degree of Disability Scale was adopted in order to assess individual patients' levels of impairment. The patients included in this study were grouped- higher than 1.5 on the scale. There were 22 men and 14 women, with ages varying from 41 to 78. Three observers analyzed the recording data, with a protocol for stroboscopic evaluation being adopted.

RESULTS

Tremor, open phase closure and vocal fold bowing were the most common findings among patients. Aperiodic voice in 4 cases recommended against stroboscopic analysis. Strong gag reflex in another 3 cases, made evaluation with rigid telescope impossible. The irregularity of the edge, glottic closure, prevalence of the glottic cycle phase, amplitude; mucosal wave; vibratory behavior; phase symmetry, periodicity and movement extension were evaluated by both methods. The vibratory source was exclusively glottic in all cases.

CONCLUSION

Videolaryngostroboscopy can be performed by means of both methods - rigid and fiberoptic examination.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.