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Purpose: Volume injected for glottic insufficiency is paramount in achieving desired outcome. Factors that determine the required volume have not been thoroughly investigated and may correlate with outcome. The first objective of this investigation was to evaluate the association between injectable volume and various parameters, including lifestyle characteristics, pre-procedural factors, and voice measures, while the second aim assessed the correlation of volume to clinical outcomes in patients who underwent injection laryngoplasty., Methods: For the first objective, a one-way ANOVA and univariate linear regression were used to analyze data from 124 patients (injected material, pre-operative diagnosis, previous voice therapy, age etc.). One-sample t-tests and Pearson correlational coefficients were employed for statistical analysis of aim 2 in a subgroup of 28 patients that had pre- and post-injection voice evaluations (e.g., acoustic and aerodynamic analysis, perceptual assessment, questionnaires)., Results: Average injection volume was 0.39 ± 0.062 mL (range: 0.1-1.6mL). No pre-procedural or lifestyle factor significantly affected injection volume (p > 0.05). There was no relationship between pre-procedural voice outcomes and injection volume (p > 0.05). Of the factors that were significantly improved post-injection laryngoplasty (GFI, VHI, and GRBAS), there were no significant correlations between the magnitude of improvement in these measures and injection volume (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: Injection volume does not appear to be affected by pre-procedural or lifestyle factors. In addition, injection volume does not significantly impact clinical outcomes assessed through voice analysis or patient-reported questionnaires. Our results underscore the complexity of factors at play in injection laryngoplasty for glottic insufficiency., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To analyze oncological efficacy and voice outcomes of the 445-nm blue laser (BL) in the treatment of early glottic carcinoma and compare results with the 532-nm potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser., Study Design: Single institution, retrospective chart review., Methods: All patients who underwent microlaryngoscopic KTP or BL laser excision of early glottic carcinoma from 2018 to the present day with at least 1-year follow-up were included. Primary and recurrent disease, including radiation and surgical failures, were included. Demographic data, voice outcomes and oncologic outcomes were compared between the two laser groups., Results: Forty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria for the BL group and 88 for the KTP group, with average follow-up of 635 and 1236 days, respectively. Oncologic outcomes were not significantly different, with disease-specific survival rates of 95.9% for BL and 100% for KTP (p = 0.13), organ preservation rates of 98.0% for BL and 95.6% for KTP (p = 0.39), and local control rates of 93.9% for BL and 92.1% for KTP (p = 0.81). Both BL and KTP groups showed significant improvement in CAPE-V (p = 0.04, 0.006 respectively) and VHI-10 scores (p = 0.003, <0.00001) following surgery., Conclusions: Photoangiolytic removal of early glottic carcinoma with BL appears to be equally safe and effective as with KTP laser at minimum one-year follow-up, and with excellent voice outcomes. Additional study will be warranted over time to assess long-term outcomes in BL patients., Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:4656-4660, 2024., (© 2024 The Author(s). The Laryngoscope published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objective: To investigate the prognosis and influencing factors of endoscopic surgery for early glottic carcinoma. Methods: In this retrospective study, we applied the Cox proportional hazards regression model and the random survival forest model to analyze the clinical characteristics of 385 patients [362 males, 23 females, age ranging from 33 to 91 years (62.0±9.6)] who visited the Sixth Medical Center of the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army from January 2009, to December 2022 and diagnosed with early glottic carcinoma, encompassing variables such as age, gender, T stage, surgical approach, pathological typing, etc. The primary evaluation indicators were overall survival(OS) and disease-free survival rates (DFS). The follow-up duration ranged from 30 to 5,557 days (with a median follow-up time of 1,596 days). Results: After a three-year follow-up, the OS rate for the 385 patients was 95.83%, while the DSF rate was 82.98%. The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed age ( HR =2.35, 95% CI : 1.75 to 3.15, P <0.001) and T staging ( HR =1.59, 95% CI : 1.13 to 2.23, P= 0.019) as predominant factors affecting the OS and DFS. The random survival forest model identified poor tumor differentiation, and high expression of P53 and Ki-67 as predictors of inferior prognosis. Conclusion: Endoscopic surgery for early glottic carcinoma yields favorable short-term OS and reduces short-term recurrence rates, with T-stage emerging as a pivotal factor influencing recurrence. Tumors with poor differentiation and elevated expression of P53 may be indicative of an increased risk of recurrence.

Objective: Frozen biopsy may guide surgical intraoperative decisions. We evaluated the accuracy of frozen biopsy for diagnosing benign, dysplastic and malignant laryngeal lesions, compared to paraffin section (gold standard)., Methods: Retrospective review of the charts of all patients presenting with laryngeal lesions suspicious of malignancy, who underwent laryngeal microsurgery with frozen biopsy in our institution, between 2015 and 2020. Results of frozen biopsy and paraffin section examinations were compared., Results: Among 113 samples of 89 patients, paraffin section diagnosed 23 benign, 31 dysplastic and 59 malignant lesions. The accuracy of the frozen biopsy in identifying dysplasia or malignancy was 80.5% (91/113), and greater for lesions >5 mm (78.8% × 51.5%; p = 0.009). The positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity and specificity were 95.9%, 51.3%, 78.9% and 86.9%, respectively., Conclusions: Frozen section is a reliable tool when malignancy is detected, but almost half of benign results exhibit dysplasia or malignancy in paraffin section. Other clinical parameters should be considered in intraoperative decisions to prevent undertreatment., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier España S.L.U.)

Objective: To explore the differences between clinical features and computed tomography (CT) findings of early-stage glottic cancer (EGC) with or without recurrence after transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and to establish a preoperative nomogram to predict postoperative recurrence., Methods: The clinical and CT features of 168 consecutive patients with EGC with or without recurrence were analyzed retrospectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of recurrence. A nomogram was constructed to preoperatively predict recurrence. To assess the nomogram's performance, the C-index and calibration plot were used., Results: EGCs with and without recurrence differed significantly in T-stage, depth, and normalized CT values in the arterial phase (NCTAP) and venous phase (NCTVP) (all P < 0.05). T-stage, depth, and NCTVP were independent predictors of recurrence in EGCs (all P < 0.05). The C-index (0.765, 95% confidence interval: 0.703-0.827) and calibration plot showed that the nomogram has good prediction accuracy. Nomograms based on T-stage and CT variables provided numerically predicted recurrence rates and were better than those based on only T-stage (C-index of 0.765 vs. 0.608)., Conclusions: Using clinical and CT variables, we developed a novel nomogram to predict the recurrence of EGC before TLM, which may be a potential noninvasive tool for guiding personalized treatment., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics.)

Objective(s): Describe recent national trends in overall treatment modalities for T1 glottic squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), and identify factors associated with treatment regimens., Methods: National Cancer Database from 2004-2020 was queried for all patients with glottic cT1N0M0 SCC. Treatment patterns over time were analyzed using the Cochran-Armitage test for trend. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine the factors associated with treatment regimens., Results: Of the 22,414 patients identified, most patients received RT only (57%), 21% received surgery only, and 22% received dual-modality treatment ("over-treatment"). Over the time period, there was a decreasing trend in rates of over-treatment for T1 glottic SCC (p < 0.001) and an increasing trend in surgery only (p < 0.001). Treatment in 2016-2018 (OR: 1.168 [1.004 to 1.359]), 2013-2015 (OR: 1.419 [1.221 to 1.648]), 2010-2012 (OR: 1.611 [1.388 to 1.871]), 2007-2009 (OR: 1.682 [1.450 to 1.951]), or 2004-2006 (OR: 1.795 [1.548 to 2.081]) versus 2019-2020 was associated with greater likelihood of over-treatment. T1b tumors were less likely to be over-treated (OR: 0.795 [0.707 to 0.894]) versus T1a tumors, and less likely to receive surgery first (OR: 0.536 [0.485 to 0.592]) versus T1a tumors., Conclusion: Over-treatment for T1 glottic SCC has been declining, with increasing rates of surgery only. Year of treatment was significantly associated with the receipt of dual-modality treatment. Finally, patients with T1b disease were more likely to receive RT as the first and only treatment., Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:3633-3644, 2024., (© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives: Transoral laser microsurgery (TLMS) and radiotherapy (XRT) are mainstays of treatment for early glottic carcinoma (EGC). Here, we investigated case-dependent provider treatment preferences and identify factors which impact decision-making in EGC., Methods: This cross-sectional survey of laryngologists, head-and-neck surgeons, and radiation oncologists presented five diagrammatic cases of progressively advanced EGC (T1/2, N0). Respondents indicated preference for TLMS or XRT and ranked factors which influenced their recommendation for each case. Analysis utilized descriptive statistics, Fischer's exact tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests for nonparametric data., Results: A total of 141 complete responses (69.5% laryngologists) were received. Most respondents practiced in academic settings (93.5%) and within multidisciplinary teams (94.0%). Anterior commissure involvement was the most important a priori tumor factor for case-independent treatment recommendation (Likert Scale: 4.22/5), followed by Laterality (Likert Scale: 4.02/5). Across all specialties, TLMS was recommended for unilateral T1a lesions. Laryngologists continued recommending TLMS in T2 lesions (41.0%) more than head-and-neck surgeons (5.0%) and radiation oncologists (0.0%). Across all cases, survival and voice outcomes were the most important clinical factors impacting treatment decisions. Radiation oncologists weighed voice more heavily than laryngologists in more complex presentations of EGC (rank: 1.6 vs. 2.7, Kruskall-Wallis: p < 0.05)., Conclusions: In more complex clinical presentations of EGC, preference for TLMS compared to XRT differed across specialists, despite similar rankings of factors driving these treatment recommendations. This may be driven by differing experiences and viewpoints on case-dependent voice outcomes following TLMS versus XRT, suggesting a need for increased understanding of how tumor location and depth impact voice outcomes., Level of Evidence: 5 Laryngoscope, 134:3686-3694, 2024., (© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objective: Numerous methods and materials are available for vertical partial laryngectomy. In this study, the reparative effects of the platysma myocutaneous flap (PMF) and ribbon myocutaneous flap (RMF) on the postoperative voice quality of patients were compared to provide a reference for selecting a method conducive to improving postoperative voice quality., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with unilateral T2-3 glottic carcinoma. Following vertical partial laryngectomy, the defect was repaired with a PMF or simple RMF. Twelve months after surgery, voice quality was assessed according to voice acoustics, aerodynamics, and subjective perceptual evaluation, and glottic morphology was recorded using a laryngeal stroboscopy., Results: A total of 70 patients were identified, including 54 in the PMF group and 16 in the RMF group. The PMF group was superior to the RMF group in terms of voice quality assessed by voice acoustics, aerodynamics, and subjective perceptual evaluation. In the PMF group, 72.2% of patients performed phonation with their vocal cords, and approximately 27.8% of patients were affected by supraglottic compression. In the RMF group, 81.3% of patients were affected by supraglottic compression. No significant difference was found in the 5-year survival rate between the two groups., Conclusion: For defect repair following vertical partial laryngectomy, a PMF can allow better postoperative voice quality to be achieved than an RMF because a PMF can provide more tissue (including strap muscle under the flap) for padding, which enables the glottic portion corresponding to the vocal cord to close well., Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:3181-3186, 2024., (© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Purpose: Since new evidence regarding the impact of Wendler glottoplasty (WG) on the voice in transgender women became available in the literature in recent years, we aimed to perform an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the actual safety and efficacy of WG in the process of vocal feminization., Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for English-language articles published until July 4, 2023. Studies were found eligible if they evaluated the impact of WG on the acoustic-aerodynamic measures and quality of voice in transgender women., Results: Twenty-three studies were identified. After exclusion of three studies due to incomplete data, 20 studies including 656 patients were included in the meta-analysis. After WG, there was a significant increase of fundamental frequency, speaking fundamental frequency, and lower limit of the frequency range (p < 0.001). Concurrently, a significant reduction of frequency range and maximum phonation time was observed (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between the pre- and postoperative values regarding the Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, and Strain scale score (p = 0.339). The overall score in the Trans Woman Voice Questionnaire (TWVQ) significantly improved after WG (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: WG is an effective voice feminization method in transgender women, associated with a high procedural success and low risk of postoperative complications. Significantly improved TWVQ score after surgery suggests its positive impact on the voice-related quality of life. Postoperative decrease of maximum phonation time and frequency range does not seem to significantly impact the effectiveness of voice production., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: The prognostic value of depth of invasion (DOI) in oral squamous cell cancer carcinoma and cutaneous melanoma is well established, while there is a lack of reports investigating the role of DOI in laryngeal cancer. This study aims to explore the association of glottic cancer DOI with other established pathological risk factors and nodal metastasis and evaluate the feasibility of measuring DOI preoperatively using tomographic imaging., Methods: The medical records of glottic cancer patients treated between 2015 and 2020 in a single tertiary referral center were screened retrospectively. Pathologically measured DOI (pDOI) value was also reviewed and registered. Preoperative computer tomography (CT) was used to obtain the radiological DOI (rDOI) measured by two dedicated radiologists. Their inter-rated agreement was assessed and the correlation between pDOI and rDOI was calculated. pDOI association with the main pathology report features was assessed with univariable analysis. Cox univariable and multivariable models were used to explore the role of pDOI on survival., Results: Ninety-one patients had pDOI data available, of which 59 also had rDOI data. A strong concordance between the two radiologists was found (concordance correlation coefficient = 0.96); rDOI and pDOI were highly and significantly correlated (R = 0.85; p < 0.001). pDOI was significantly higher in patients with perineural invasion (PNI; p < 0.001), lymphovascular invasion (LVI; p < 0.001), and nodal metastasis (p < 0.001). pDOI was associated with disease-free survival at univariable analysis (p = 0.04) while it did not show a significant impact (p = 0.10) at multivariable analysis., Conclusion: Glottic carcinoma DOI correlates with PNI, LVI, and nodal metastasis and it can be reliably assessed in a preoperative setting using CT imaging., Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:3230-3237, 2024., (© 2024 The Authors. The Laryngoscope published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives: To assess the value of carbon dioxide transoral laser microsurgery (CO 2 TOLMS) for early-stage glottic cancer with special regard to involvement of the anterior commissure (AC)., Study Design: Single-center retrospective cohort study., Setting: Grade-A tertiary hospital., Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with early-stage (Tis-T2) glottic cancer who underwent CO 2 TOLMS. All patients had at least 2 years of follow-up. The univariate and multivariate survival analyses were used to identify the risk factors for recurrence and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze OS and DSS rates., Results: A total of 102 patients were included in the study. Eleven patients (10.78%) had recurrence. The univariate analysis showed that the recurrence was associated with the AC classification, T staging, tumor size, and tobacco use (P < .05). However, on multivariate analysis, the AC classification was the only independent risk factor for recurrence (P < .001, HR = 3.179). AC classification were distributed as follows: 59 (57.84%) AC0, 29 (28.43%) AC1, 8 (7.84%) AC2, and 6 (5.88%) AC3, 2-year/5-year OS and DSS rates were progressively reduced in the AC0, AC1, AC2, and AC3 groups (P < .001). At the same T staging, the OS rates incrementally decreased as the level of involvement of the AC became higher (P = .004)., Conclusion: CO 2 TOLMS is an effective treatment for early-stage glottic cancer. AC involvement is an independent risk factors for recurrence and poor prognosis. The AC classification system may be better at grading the prognosis of patients with early-stage glottic cancer and has prognostic value independent of T staging., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Purpose: In early glottic squamous cell carcinoma, similar results have been described in terms of disease control between transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and radiation therapy (RT). During the past two decades, several studies compared subjective vocal outcomes of exclusive RT with those of TLM, showing a trend towards improving results for TLM over time. However, the objective differences in terms of spectro-acoustic voice parameters between exclusive RT and TLM have been less frequently investigated. The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate voice quality after TLM and RT treatment for early glottic carcinoma, based on acoustic analysis parameters including jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio, fundamental frequency and maximum phonation time., Material and Methods: A search of the English published literature was conducted on the Pubmed, Scopus and Cochrane databases following PRISMA guidelines., Results: A total of 441 titles were retrieved from the search. After full-text screening and application of inclusion/exclusion criteria, 12 articles were included. We found no significant differences between TLM and RT treatment in the considered acoustic analysis parameters, except for Shimmer, with more favorable values reported in the RT group., Conclusions: Considering the spread of the disease and expecting an improvement in long-term survival over time, well-designed and multicentric studies involving larger populations with a long-term follow up are mandatory to better assess objective voice outcomes in terms of spectro-acoustic voice parameters., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the current state and available evidence surrounding surgical voice care for the transgender and/or gender expansive population. The term "gender expansive" has been proposed as an inclusive term to classify those who do not identify with traditional gender roles but are otherwise not confined to one gender narrative or experience. We aim to review indications and candidacy for surgery, surgical procedure options for altering vocal pitch, and typical postoperative expectations. The role of voice therapy and considerations for perioperative care will also be discussed., Competing Interests: C.A.R. reports the following disclosures and financial relationships: Olympus America Inc.: consultant; Instrumentarium: royalties; Freudenberg Medical: consultant; Reflux Gourmet LCC: shareholder. S.L.S.: MedBridge royalties. The other authors have no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine how often children with airway injury at the time of tracheostomy develop airway stenosis., Study Design: A 7-year retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of pediatric patients who underwent endotracheal intubation followed by tracheostomy with concurrent and follow-up direct laryngoscopy., Setting: Tertiary care hospital., Methods: Outcomes included glottic or subglottic injury and progression to stenosis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed via SPSS., Results: Of the 222 patients (median age at surgery, 0.6 years; 54% male) who met study criteria, 46% had airway injury at the time of tracheostomy. Patients with congenital cardiovascular disease had 2.33-times increased risk of developing airway injury (P = .01). Patients with airway injury on initial direct laryngoscopy developed stenosis significantly more frequently than those without injury (30% vs 12%, P < .01). Risks factors for developing stenosis in children with airway injury include prematurity (P = .02), younger age at time of surgery (P < .01), endotracheal tube size (P < .01), Down syndrome (P = .03), and neonatal (P = .02) and/or congenital cardiovascular (P < .01) diagnosis. However, none of these variables were significant on multivariate analysis., Conclusions: Intubated patients with evidence of glottic or subglottic injury at the time of tracheotomy are more likely to develop airway stenosis than those without. Congenital heart disease was associated with twice the risk of developing airway injury, while progression to stenosis was associated with younger age, prematurity, and/or comorbid diagnoses., (© 2022 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Objective: The objective of this study is to describe an in vivo rabbit phonation model for glottic insufficiency that is simple and reproducible by means of unilateral transcricothyroid laryngeal muscle stimulation and high-speed video recordings of evoked phonation., Study Design: Nonrandomized controlled animal trial., Setting: Academic medical center., Methods: A single operation including evoked phonation with bilateral and unilateral transcricothyroid laryngeal muscle stimulation conditions was modeled using 6 New Zealand white rabbits. The effect of stimulation method on glottic cycle, pitch, and loudness was compared. Endoscopic recordings using 5000 frames-per-second image capture technology and audiologic recordings were obtained for all phonation conditions. Primary outcome measures included means of maximum glottal area (MGA)/length pixel ratio, right and left amplitude/length pixel ratios, calculated cycle frequency, auditory recorded frequency, and maximum auditory intensity. Measurements were obtained via pixel counts using ImageJ., Results: Mean MGA/length was significantly greater with unilateral, 20.30, vs bilateral, 9.62, stimulation (P = .043). Mean frequency of 479.92 Hz vs 683.46 Hz (P = .027) and mean maximum intensity of 76.3 dB vs 83.5 dB (P = .013) were significantly increased from unilateral to bilateral stimulation. There was no significant difference in mean right amplitude/length between unilateral and bilateral., Conclusion: The described model demonstrates a simple and reproducible means of producing glottic insufficiency due to unilateral vocal fold bowing and represents a pathway for better understanding the biomechanics and pathophysiology of glottic insufficiency due to superior laryngeal nerve injury and vocal fold immobility and offers the potential to compare treatment modalities through in vivo study., (© 2023 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Objectives: Preoperative anterior commissure (AC) evaluation in glottic cancer is crucial for therapeutic decisions. Endoscopy is often inadequate to precisely detect the presence of cancer in the AC; thus, computed tomography (CT) scan could help. We investigated the relation between AC thickness on CT scan (in mm), AC involvement by cancer at histology, and radiologic signs of anterior paraglottic space (PGS) infiltration., Study Design: Retrospective observational study., Methods: An experienced radiologist retrospectively measured AC thickness and identified signs of anterior PGS infiltration on pretreatment contrast-enhanced CT scans of 80 patients with primary glottic cancer. The gold standard to define the presence of cancer in the AC was histology. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the potential cut-off values of AC thickness (Youden index method) able to maximize both sensitivity and specificity in identifying the presence of cancer in the AC at histology and PGS infiltration on CT scan., Results: AC was significantly thicker in patients with cancer in the AC at histology (P < .001) and in patients with PGS infiltration on CT scan (P < .001). The cut-off values to discriminate the presence of cancer at histology and PGS infiltration on CT scan were 3.62 and 2.6 mm, respectively. We found a substantial agreement between anterior PGS infiltration on CT scan and the presence of cancer in the AC at histology (Cohen Kappa: P = .70)., Conclusion: AC thickness and radiologic signs of PGS infiltration on pretreatment CT scan could represent a method to predict the presence of cancer in the AC at histology., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 132:2427-2433, 2022., (© 2022 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives/hypothesis: Anterior glottic stenosis (AGS) results from surgical intervention, carcinoma, papillomatosis, congenital, or idiopathic causes. It may be present as elastic web or fibrotic scar. It impairs vocal function and glottic airway. Reconstructive options include resection and placement of a keel or glottic web-based mucosal flaps to prevent restenosis. These methods may not be sufficient for reconstructing a thick anterior scar and may require multiple interventions. The aim of the study was to describe the anterior subglottic mucosal flap (ASGMF), a one-stage, keel-free technique for AGS repair., Study Design: A retrospective cohort., Methods: Patients with AGS were operated using the ASGMF between 2017 and 2020. The stenotic segment was excised, and then an ASGMF was developed. A unilateral oblique incision was performed to allow rotation and advancement of the flap toward the contralateral vocal fold. The flap was sutured to the mucosal edge of the vocal fold to create mucosal continuity and prevent restenosis. Vocal fold length ratio (VFLR), which is between the free part and the total vocal fold length, as well as stroboscopic measures, were calculated before and after surgery., Results: Twelve patients were enrolled. Etiologies were iatrogenic, dysplasia, papillomatosis, carcinoma, and congenital. Average VFLR improved from 0.33 to 0.87 (P-value < .0001). Median amplitude and mucosal wave propagation improved from 12.3% and 9.5% to 28.6% and 22.7%, respectively (P-values = .0278, .0385). Phase symmetry improved from 24.5% to 60.9% (P-value = .0413). No complications were encountered., Conclusions: ASGMF for AGS is an effective surgical procedure, allowing for one stage, keel-free reconstruction of the anterior commissure. ASGMF can significantly elongate the free portion of the vocal folds and improve vibratory function., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 132:612-618, 2022., (© 2021 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives: The aim of this article was to describe the surgical technique and report the oncological and functional outcomes of the partial glottic-subglottic laryngectomy (GSL)., Methods: A retrospective review of the clinical charts of patients who underwent GSL for laryngeal cancer from 1989 to 2020 at the Otolaryngology Unit of the Vittorio Veneto Hospital, a referral center for laryngeal cancer treatment., Results: The present article considered 36 patients who were submitted to GSL for laryngeal cancer. The pathological exam found squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in 16 cases, adenoid-cystic carcinoma (ACC) in 9 cases, laryngeal chondrosarcoma in 8 cases, 1 giant cell carcinoma, 1 carcinosarcoma, and 1 metastasis of colon adenocarcinoma. Considering the 16 SCC cases we observed a recurrence rate of 31%, the overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were 75%. The 9 ACC cases had a recurrence rate of 23% and OS/DSS of 88%. In the 8 chondrosarcomas no relapses were reported and the OS/DSS were 100%. Among the patients without recurrence of the disease, a definitive decannulation was achieved in 21 cases (75%)., Conclusions: The GSL represents a valid alternative to total laryngectomy in selected cases of laryngeal cancer involving the glottic and subglottic regions., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives/hypothesis: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) has a non-negligible incidence in elderly patients. However, there is still no clear indication on the ideal treatment for early-intermediate glottic LSCC in this specific age group. Both surgical and nonsurgical approaches may be burdened by complications and sequelae that negatively impact patient's health. In this setting, carbon dioxide transoral laser microsurgery (CO 2 TOLMS) is a promising minimally invasive treatment option., Study Design: Retrospective case series in a single tertiary academic institution., Methods: Patients who underwent CO 2 TOLMS for Tis-T3 glottic LSCC from 1997 to 2017 were reviewed. Demographic, clinical, and tumor characteristics, as well as postoperative complications were recorded. Overall (OS), disease-specific (DSS), recurrence-free (RFS), laryngo-esophageal dysfunction free survivals (LEDFS), and organ preservation (OP) were calculated., Results: A total of 134 patients (mean age, 80 ± 4 years; median, 79; range, 75-93) were included in the study. Seven lesions were classified as pTis, 65 as pT1a, 22 as pT1b, 35 as pT2, and 5 as pT3. No treatment-related death was observed. Twenty-eight (20.9%) patients reported 10 surgical and 19 medical complications. Five-year OS, DSS, RFS, LEDFS, and OP were 68.9%, 95.4%, 79.5%, 66%, and 92.5%, respectively. Age and comorbidities were associated with OS and LEDFS. Advanced T categories were negatively correlated with OS, DSS, RFS, LEDFS, and OP. Age and comorbidities were not significant risk factors for complications., Conclusions: CO 2 TOLMS can be considered a valuable therapeutic approach for selected Tis-T3 glottic LSCC even in the elderly given its favorable oncologic outcomes and minimal aggressiveness., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 132:135-141, 2022., (© 2021 The Authors. The Laryngoscope published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives/hypothesis: To demonstrate that a group of patients who are not considered candidates for organ preservation can achieve organ preservation through neoadjuvant chemotherapy + surgery and to determine if there are differences regarding organ preservation, disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) after comparing such group with another one undergoing standard treatment., Methods: Patients with laryngeal cancer were retrospectively analyzed and divided into two groups. Group A included patients who were initially treated with supracricoid laryngectomy. Group B included patients with T3N0 glottic squamous cell carcinoma with arytenoid fixation. Patients were offered neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Both groups underwent bilateral selective neck dissection of lymph nodes (II-V) and intentional search of the Delphian lymph nodes., Results: Thirty-four patients were assigned to group A of surgery alone, and 16 patients were included in group B of induction chemotherapy. No statistical differences were found regarding sex, tumor localization, histological diagnosis, TNM staging, recurrence, or organ preservation. DFS, OS, and CSS at 60 months were the same in both groups. No statistical differences were found when comparing induction versus noninduction groups according to the T-stage in DFS, OS, and CSS., Conclusions: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy allows to perform conservative surgery in patients with poor functional prognosis or who are not good candidates for organ preservation at first. We could perform safe surgery, and there was no more recurrence. Hence DFS is not modified (i.e., there was no more recurrence); consequently, OS and CSS are not affected. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus supracricoid partial laryngectomy-cricohyoidoepiglottopexy is an oncologically safe procedure that preserves basic functions such as breathing, phonation, and swallowing., Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 132:156-162, 2022., (© 2021 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives/hypothesis: Determine the incidence of short- and long-term dysphagia in pediatric patients with and without syndromes/neurodevelopmental delay following supraglottoplasty (SGP) at our institution., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Methods: A retrospective cohort study of children ≤18 years old who underwent SGP from 2014 to 2019 was undertaken. Age at surgery, sex, race, insurance, underlying syndromes/neurodevelopmental delay, concurrent surgical procedures, and clinical swallowing assessments were reviewed. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with postoperative feeding difficulties. Time-to-event analysis was performed to assess time to resolution of dysphagia., Results: A total of 231 patients were identified. Average age at time of SGP was 13.7 months. Of 231 patients, 88 (38.1%) had a syndrome/neurodevelopmental delay. Of these 231 patients, 112 had a preoperative videofluoroscopic swallow study or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, of whom 53/112 (47.3%) had dysphagia. After SGP, 138/231 (59.7%) underwent clinical/instrumental swallowing assessments, of whom 95/138 (68.8%) had immediate postsurgical dysphagia. At last follow-up (1 month to 45 months), 15/95 (15.8%) had persistent dysphagia on instrumental assessment, 14/15 of whom had syndromes/neurodevelopmental delay. Time-to-event analysis revealed that for the nonsyndromic cohort, 25% had resolution of dysphagia by 4 months, 50% by 10 months, and 75% by 14 months. Cox proportional hazards regression revealed that the presence of underlying syndromes/neurodevelopmental delay was the only factor predictive of long-term postoperative dysphagia (hazard ratio of resolution 0.21 [95% confidence interval 0.096-0.48])., Conclusions: While short-term feeding difficulties following SGP in pediatric patients are not uncommon, long-term dysphagia is rare in patients without syndromes/neurodevelopmental delay. These data can be used when counseling caregivers about the risks and benefits of SGP., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:2817-2822, 2021., (© 2021 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Vertical partial laryngectomy is a well-established surgical procedure for early glottic cancers with acceptable functional and oncological outcomes. However, on a long-term basis, aspiration might be a serious problem with aging. Here we presented two cases of refractory aspiration pneumonia after vertical laryngectomy. Case 1: A 76-year old gentleman with a past history of malignant lymphoma treated by chemotherapy and radiotherapy had glottic cancer, which was treated by repeated vertical partial laryngectomies. Although glottic caner had been well controlled, he started to suffer from refractory aspiration pneumonia. Since his cervical skin was very thin and hard and his general condition was poor, we employed modified Kano's method for glottic closure. Case 2: A 87-year old Japanese male had a past history of glottic cancer treated by radiotherapy and vertical partial laryngectomy. He was repeatedly hospitalized for severe aspiration pneumonia. At the age of 87, he had second primary oropharyngeal cancer. Kano's method was simultaneously performed at the time of resection of oropharyngeal cancer. Postoperative courses were uneventful without sign of leakage in both cases. The patients started oral intake 2 weeks after the surgery. They have been alive without aspiration pneumonia and takes normal diet., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: UK population ageing and associated cancer risk predicts an increase in the prevalence of laryngeal cancer in elderly patients. Whilst trans-oral laser microsurgery (TLM) has been demonstrated to achieve excellent control of early disease with few complications, data specifically related to its safety and efficacy in older patients is lacking. We report the largest series to date., Objectives: To assess the safety and efficacy of TLM in elderly patients with glottic pre-malignancy and early malignancy., Methods: A retrospective review and statistical analysis of the clinical records of patients aged 70 or over undergoing TLM for early and premalignant glottic disease., Results: The records of 106 patients over the age of 70 were identified. Thirteen records were excluded, 4 due to failure to meet the inclusion criteria (stage I/II disease, primary site of lesion in the glottis) and 9 due to incomplete follow up data capture. Most surgeries (>70%) were performed as a day case or overnight admission, with only 2 admissions >2 days. One patient required hospital readmission with dysphagia, resulting in an altered diet. No patients required tracheostomy or tube feeding. No treatment related deaths or intensive care admissions were observed. Ten patients had recurrent disease within 5 years; 1 received radiotherapy, 1 underwent salvage laryngectomy, the remainder had further TLM without complication. Five-year disease specific survival rates were >90%., Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that TLM is safe and effective for elderly patients, with outcomes comparable to those reported in large, non-age selected cohorts. Although our patients underwent more conservative cordectomy types (I-III) than those with similar disease stages reported elsewhere, our recurrence rates were not higher. This supports the oncological effectiveness of surgery whilst reducing the risk of associated functional compromise.

Objectives/hypothesis: Glottic stenosis is a discrete cause of airway compromise. We aimed to determine the surgical outcomes of transverse cordotomy with anteromedial arytenoidectomy (TCAMA), performed in the setting of isolated glottic stenosis resulting from two discrete etiologies: bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVFP) and posterior glottic stenosis (PGS)., Study Design: Retrospective, analytic cohort study., Methods: Twenty-six patients with isolated glottic stenosis were treated with TCAMA between 2006 and 2019. A retrospective analysis determined decannulation rates and intervals, voice outcomes, swallowing outcomes, and reoperation rates postoperatively. Outcomes between the two etiologic cohorts were compared., Results: Of the 26 patients, 16/26 patients were diagnosed with PGS and 10/26 with BVFP. Eighteen patients required tracheotomies during their clinical course (11/16 PGS, and 7/10 BVFP), and 100% were ultimately decannulated. The PGS cohort required two-sided interventions more frequently than the BVFP cohort (45.5% vs. 0%, P = .066). Trach-dependent PGS patients required a longer time to achieve decannulation than BVFP patients by a factor of 2.38, although the difference was not statistically significant (102.3 days vs. 42.9 days, respectively, P = .113). Patients demonstrated a significant change in maximum phonation time but no statistically significant differences with preoperative versus postoperative voice outcomes like voice-related quality of life. All patients ultimately returned to their baseline swallow function postoperatively., Conclusion: TCAMA is an effective treatment for surgical rehabilitation of glottic stenosis caused by both BVFP and PGS. Patient-reported outcomes of postoperative vocal function remain consistent following surgical intervention. Additional, prospective studies with greater power are warranted to validate the contrasting outcomes observed when applying this discrete surgical technique across two distinct diagnostic cohorts in this retrospective study., Level of Evidence: 4. Laryngoscope, 131:2305-2311, 2021., (© 2021 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives: To investigate surgical adjuncts (stents) and previous surgeries on outcomes from posterior glottic stenosis (PGS)., Methods: PubMED/Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched for publications on adult patients undergoing surgery for PGS. Decannulation and need for additional surgeries were evaluated as outcomes. Linear mixed-effects (with random effects and fixed effects) models were used for multivariate testing., Results: In total, 516 abstracts were reviewed and 26 articles were considered for systematic review. Of these, 19 articles with 140 pooled patient cases were extracted for meta-analysis. On multivariate meta-analysis analysis accounting for study-specific variation and use of open procedures, prior surgeries were associated with additional surgeries (RR = 3.76 [1.39-3.86], P  = .038) and the use of a stent was associated with a lower likelihood of decannulation (RR = 0.42 [0.09-0.98], P  = .044)., Conclusion: Minimizing repeat surgery is a predictor for avoiding additional future surgeries and use of a stent was correlated with poor outcomes. These 2 findings may assist providers in patient counseling regarding the need for further surgical interventions. Further, this study is the first to compare the efficacy of surgical approaches for the resolution of PGS, and highlights the importance of avoiding repeat procedures and stents for the management of PGS.

Management of laryngotracheal stenosis is challenging and laryngotracheal stenosis is generally managed with laryngotracheal reconstruction. Stents are often used as part of the reconstructive surgery. Although most stents adequately stabilize the reconstruction during healing, they often do a poor job of mimicking glottic anatomy, particularly the anterior glottis. Here, we present a modified suprastomal stent designed to stabilize reconstruction after laryngotracheal reconstruction while also improving postoperative glottic anatomy and function. The case of a 15-year-old tracheostomy-dependent patient with glotto-subglottic stenosis who underwent laryngotracheal reconstruction using this modified stent is described. The patient had an excellent outcome with decannulation of her tracheostomy and significant improvement in voice.

Objective: Flexible endoscopic laser surgery (FELS) is able to overcome some limitations of traditional transoral CO2 laser surgery. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of FELS in the treatment of T1-T2 glottic carcinoma., Methods: We applied FELS for 120 patients with T1-T2 glottic carcinoma. Tumour ablation was performed with Nd:YAG laser. In 76 (63.3%) cases the intervention was performed under local anesthesia. Twenty nine (24.2%) patients (T1b - 2, T2-27) underwent postoperative radiation therapy (RT)., Results: Successful treatment, with local control and larynx preservation, was obtained in 106 cases (88.3%), with mean follow-up of 6.4 years. More than 50% of the patients were followed-up over 5 years., Conclusions: FELS can be proposed as an alternative treatment method for patients with early glottic carcinoma. The advantages of the method include: possibility of applying treatment under local anesthesia, that allows avoiding of general anesthesia and its related risks; applicability to patients with contraindications to general anesthesia and patients with anatomic particularities, that make transoral microsurgery impossible, allowing avoidance of the laryngofissure and tracheotomy., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Laser reduction glottoplasty is a relatively new surgical procedure for voice feminization on transgender women. This study aims to determine long-term voice results of glottoplasty on transwomen., Methods: Nonrandomized, retrospective, cohort. Tertiary referral center. Endoscopic laser reduction glottoplasty was performed on 28 transwomen. Voice Handicap Index (VHI-30), Transsexual Voice Questionnaire (TVQ), acoustic analysis with /a/ for F 0 , jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio and acoustic analysis for speaking F 0 were measured before and after surgery. Patients self-evaluated their postoperative voices and medical students and 2 voice experts scored patients' pre- and postsurgery voice samples as masculine, feminine or neither., Results: Mean total VHI and TVQ scores improved significantly postoperatively ( P  < .001). Pre- and postsurgery mean F 0 were 132 and 198 Hz and mean speaking F 0 were 123 and 194 Hz, respectively; these variations were found statistically significant ( P  < .001). Postoperative mean jitter, shimmer and NHR increased significantly compared to preoperative values ( P  < .05). Nine patients (32%) were not happy with their postsurgery voice result and were offered anterior glottic web formation as secondary procedure. MFT women's self-ratings of their postsurgery voices showed 3 masculine, 19 feminine and 6 neither outcomes, leading to patient gratification score of 68%. Medical students evaluated 79% of postsurgery voice specimens as feminine. Voice experts evaluated 75% of postsurgery voice specimens as feminine., Conclusions: Laser reduction glottoplasty is an accomplished and satisfying operation for feminizing voice of transwomen. Its voice outcome appears to be durable for 5 years. However, secondary operation may be needed to further gratify transwomen.

Posterior glottic stenosis (PGS) is a process that results in partial or total fixation of the vocal folds. Type I PGS (PGS-1) is an uncommon clinical entity that results from an interarytenoid adhesion/scar band that is separate from the posterior interarytenoid mucosa. We present a case series of patients with PGS-1 treated at our institution to contribute to the understanding of this complex clinical entity.

High-speed videoendoscopy is an important tool to study laryngeal dynamics, to quantify vocal fold oscillations, to diagnose voice impairments at laryngeal level and to monitor treatment progress. However, there is a significant lack of an open source, expandable research tool that features latest hardware and data analysis. In this work, we propose an open research platform termed OpenHSV that is based on state-of-the-art, commercially available equipment and features a fully automatic data analysis pipeline. A publicly available, user-friendly graphical user interface implemented in Python is used to interface the hardware. Video and audio data are recorded in synchrony and are subsequently fully automatically analyzed. Video segmentation of the glottal area is performed using efficient deep neural networks to derive glottal area waveform and glottal midline. Established quantitative, clinically relevant video and audio parameters were implemented and computed. In a preliminary clinical study, we recorded video and audio data from 28 healthy subjects. Analyzing these data in terms of image quality and derived quantitative parameters, we show the applicability, performance and usefulness of OpenHSV. Therefore, OpenHSV provides a valid, standardized access to high-speed videoendoscopy data acquisition and analysis for voice scientists, highlighting its use as a valuable research tool in understanding voice physiology. We envision that OpenHSV serves as basis for the next generation of clinical HSV systems.

Objectives/hypothesis: VT is often considered the preferred treatment for vocal feminization in transgender patients. However, Wendler glottoplasty offers a surgical option for increasing fundamental frequency and perception of vocal femininity. We aimed to determine whether the addition of glottoplasty to VT results in greater fundamental frequency elevation and improvement in quality-of-life measures., Study Design: Retrospective case series., Methods: Forty-eight trans female patients were treated for vocal feminization. Twenty-seven patients underwent VT, and 21 patients underwent VT with additional glottoplasty (VTWG). Pre- and posttreatment acoustic measures, Trans Woman Voice Questionnaire (TWVQ), and Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) data were compared., Results: Glottoplasty in combination with VT elevated average speaking fundamental frequency (SF0) to a greater extent than VT alone (P < .0001). The VTWG group achieved a 42-Hz increase in SF0, whereas the VT group achieved a 15-Hz increase in SF0. In both the VT and VTWG groups, the lower bound of physiologic range increased by 18 Hz (P = .0008 and P = .016, respectively). The addition of glottoplasty also resulted in greater improvement in voice-related quality of life. Improvement in TWVQ and VHI-10 was significantly greater in the VTWG group than the VT group (P = .007 and P = .029, respectively). TWVQ showed statistically significant improvement in the VTWG group only., Conclusions: VT results in SF0 elevation and improvement in VHI-10. The addition of glottoplasty to VT results in further improvements in SF0 and VHI-10 and statistically significant improvement in TWVQ., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1588-1593, 2021., (© 2020 American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society Inc, "The Triological Society" and American Laryngological Association (ALA).)

Objective: To determine predictors of increased drain output following type I thyroplasty for glottic insufficiency., Study Design: Retrospective chart review., Methods: A retrospective review was conducted for patients who underwent type I thyroplasty for glottic insufficiency from 2014-2019. The primary outcome was 24-hour drain output. Increased drain output was defined as >50th percentile for the sample. Univariate logistic regression models and linear regression models were used., Results: There were 84 patients with a mean age of 58.9 (SD 16.9) years. Twenty-four-hour drain output ranged from 0 to 29 mL with a mean of 9.47 (SD 6.49) mL. Patients with a history of tobacco use (OR 3.33; 95% CI, 1.24-8.95; P = .017) and prior neck surgery (OR 3.52; 95% CI, 1.26 to 9.83; P = .016) were significantly more likely to have increased drain output following surgery; these patients had a mean increase in 24-hour drain output of 3.51 mL (95% CI, 0.52 to 6.51; P = .022) and 1.74 mL (95% CI, -1.41 to 4.89; P = .274), respectively. Type of implant (Gore-Tex vs. Silastic; P = .425) and operative technique (unilateral vs. bilateral; P = .506) were not significantly associated with drain output., Conclusion: History of tobacco use and prior surgery of the neck predict increased drain output following type I thyroplasty surgery. These patients may derive the most benefit from surgical drain placement. More research is needed to confirm these findings and elucidate potential mechanisms., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1557-1560, 2021., (© 2020 American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society Inc, "The Triological Society" and American Laryngological Association (ALA).)

Objectives/hypothesis: Anterior (Wendler) glottoplasty has become a popular surgery for voice feminization. However, there has been some discrepancy between its theoretical pitch-raising potential and what is actually achievable, and downsides to shortening the glottis have not been fully explored. In addition, descriptions of the surgery are inconsistent in their treatment of the vocal ligament. This study aimed to determine 1) how fundamental frequency (f o ) is expected to vary with length of anterior glottic fixation, 2) the impact of glottic shortening on sound pressure level (SPL), and 3) the effect of including the ligament in fixation., Study Design: Computational simulation., Methods: Voice production was simulated in a fiber-gel finite element computational model using canonical male vocal fold geometry incorporating a three-layer vocal fold composition (superficial lamina propria, vocal ligament, and thyroarytenoid muscle). Progressive anterior glottic fixation (0, 1/8, 2/8, 3/8, etc. up to 7/8 of membranous vocal fold length) was simulated. Outcome measures were f o , SPL, and glottal flow waveforms., Results: f o increased from 110 Hz to 164 Hz when the anterior one-half vocal fold was fixed and continued to progressively rise with further fixation. SPL progressively decreased beyond 1/8 to 1/4 fixation. Inclusion of the vocal ligament in fixation did not further increase f o . Any fixation increased aperiodicity in the acoustic signal., Conclusions: The optimal length of fixation is a compromise between pitch elevation and reduction in output acoustic power. The simulation also provided a potential explanation for vocal roughness that is sometimes noted after anterior glottoplasty., Level of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 131:1081-1087, 2021., (© 2020 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the results obtained with CO 2 TOLMS in patients with Tis, T1, and T2 glottic tumors at our Department from 2004 to 2016 treated with CO 2 TOLMS. One hundred eighty-five patients having a median age of 67 years (range 42-88) were included in the present analysis. The tumor stages of the patients included 134 pTis-T1a, 12 pT1b, and 39 pT2 cases. Median duration of follow-up for the whole study cohort was 55 months (range 24-108 months). At 5-year follow-up, local control was 91%, 83%, and 79.4% for T1a, T1b, and T2 respectively. Disease-specific survival was 95.5%, 91.6%, and 92.3%. Overall survival was 73.8%, 91.6%, and 82%, and larynx preservation was 96.2%, 83%, and 84.6%. This study confirms that CO 2 TOLMS is a safe and standard therapy for selected T1 and T2 glottic carcinoma, and our review on T2 glottic cancer suggests that CO 2 TOLMS represents a reliable option in terms of overall survival, disease-specific survival, and laryngeal preservation. However, patients with anterior commissure involvement and T2 cancer should be evaluated with a preoperative MRI in order to exclude the infiltration of the laryngeal framework and to quantify the neoplastic involvement of para-glottic space.

Objectives: Early-stage glottic cancer (cT1-T2 cN0) may be treated by primary surgery or radiation. Elective treatment of the neck in clinically N0 disease is usually not performed due to low rates of regional lymph node metastasis. This study examines the role of elective neck dissection (END) and rate of occult nodal metastasis in cT1-T2 cN0 glottic cancer treated with primary surgery., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Methods: The National Cancer Database was used to identify patients treated for early-stage glottic cancer. Demographic variables, disease characteristics, and overall survival were compared between the subgroups of patients who did and did not receive END. Factors predictive of occult lymph node metastasis were also identified using a multivariate logistic regression model., Results: Thirty-eight percent of the 991 patients in this cohort underwent END. Younger age, treatment at an academic facility, advanced T-stage, and higher tumor grade were associated with receiving END. Sixteen percent of the 372 patients undergoing END had occult nodal metastasis. Higher tumor histopathologic grade was associated with occult metastasis (P = .004). While undergoing END did not affect significantly survival, those with occult metastasis had poorer survival (P < .001)., Conclusions: END should be considered in cT1-T2 N0 glottic cancers with poorly differentiated or undifferentiated tumor histopathology. While END itself may not improve overall survival, identification of occult nodal metastasis is an important finding for prognostication., Level of Evidence: Level 3 Laryngoscope, 131:E1139-E1146, 2021., (© 2020 American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society Inc, "The Triological Society" and American Laryngological Association (ALA).)

Objective: Type-I thryroplasty, also known as medialization thyroplasty (MT) and autologous fat injection laryngoplasty (FIL) are one of the main surgical treatments for unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). Both procedures have the same concept of completing the glottal closure by medializing the vocal fold, although the surgical approaches are quite different. In order to assess these surgical effects, we examined the treatment outcomes and benefits of the two surgeries., Methods: We collected data from the 135 phonosurgeries that we performed out of 375 patients with UVFP at Osaka Voice Center, Osaka Kaisei Hospital from January 2009 to February 2013. After excluding cases with glottal level differences on phonation, either MT or FIL were performed on 80 cases. The inclusion criteria for the present study were: (1) patients had no history of previous phonosurgery, and (2) functional evaluations were available before/after surgery. Consequently, 43 participants (12 for MT and 31 for FIL) were enrolled in this study. Surgical effects were evaluated by means of the maximum phonation time (MPT), pitch period perturbation quotient (PPQ), amplitude perturbation quotient (APQ), and harmonic to noise ratio (HNR) just before, one month, and 6 months after surgery., Results: Both MT and FIL showed significant improvement in MPT (MT, p = 0.005; FIL, p < 0.001) and PPQ (MT, p = 0.047; FIL, p = 0.041) at 1 month postoperation. We also compared the variation of each variable between the two procedures, but there were no significant differences in these parameters. However, MPT, APQ, and HNR at the post-MT after 6 months worsened compared to those at 1 month posttreatment, whereas MPT showed only a slight decrease from the 1st month to the 6th month in those with FIL., Conclusion: Both MT and FIL were effective for the voice recovery in patients with UVFP. Our findings suggest that surgical results in FIL might be better than those in MT 6 months after surgery, although there were no significant differences between these two procedures 1 month postoperation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The present study does not include any conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objectives: Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) has gradually gained approval in the treatment of early glottic cancer. However, the oncological outcomes of TLM for glottic cancer with anterior commissure (AC) involvement are still a controversial topic. We aimed to systematically review the literature on glottic cancer (Tis-T2) with patients who received TLM as first choice therapy and to evaluate several prognostic outcomes in patients with or without AC involvement., Methods: A systematic literature retrieval was conducted in PubMed, Medline (Ovid) and Web of Science. Risk ratio (RR) between AC involvement (AC+) or without AC involvement (AC-) was assessed and 95% confidence interval(95%CI) was calculated, which was performed on RevMan 5.3., Results: A total of 20 literatures were included when comparing the local recurrence (LR) rate of patients with or without AC involvement, and the results suggested LR matters in group AC+ over group AC- (RR = 2.39, 95%CI = 1.99-2.86, p < 0.00001). The 5-year overall survival(5yOS) rate included 10 studies, and there was no significant difference between AC+ and AC- (RR = 0.98, 95%CI = 0.93-1.02, p = 0.35). The laryngeal preservation rate (LPR) of AC+ was lower than that of AC- (RR = 0.97, 95%CI = 0.94-1.00, p = 0.04)., Conclusion: The results indicate that the prognosis of early glottic cancer with AC involvement is more likely to have higher local recurrence and lower LPR but no statistical difference in 5yOS rate., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Voice therapy has been the primary treatment for voice feminization in transfemale patients due to concerns that surgery worsens voice quality. We aim to determine the impact of Wendler glottoplasty on acoustic measures of voice., Study Design: Retrospective case series., Methods: Transgender female patients treated for vocal feminization with Wendler glottoplasty at a single tertiary care center were identified. Pre- and postoperative measures were taken with the Kay Elemetrics Real-Time Pitch, Analysis of Dysphonia in Speech and Voice, and Multidimensional Voice Program., Results: Twenty-eight patients were included in this study. There were no statistically significant changes in fundamental frequency variation, peak amplitude variation, soft phonation index, noise-to-harmonics ratio, cepstral peak prominence, or cepstral spectral index of dysphonia at a significance level of P < .05. Average speaking fundamental frequency (SF0) increased from 143 Hz after voice therapy to 163 Hz after surgery (P = .0009). Lower range decreased in 61% and increased in 26% of patients. Upper range decreased in 52% and increased in 48% of patients., Conclusions: Wendler glottoplasty does not worsen voice quality based on acoustic measures. Although most patients experience an increase in average SF0, effects on vocal range are variable with approximately half of patients experiencing a reduction and half experiencing an increase in upper pitch limit., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:583-586, 2021., (© 2020 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and the outcomes of transoral laser CO 2 microsurgery (TLM) for resection of early-stage squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vocal folds through several additional surgical procedures and tips improving the glottic exposure., Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients treated by TLM cordectomy in a single European University Hospital for early-stage vocal fold SCCs (Tis, T1a, T1b, and T2). The following TLM outcomes were studied regarding the tumor size (Tis and T1a vs T1b and T2) and the margin status (negative vs positive/suspicious): patient position; type of laryngoscope; requirement to external counter pressure; resection of supraglottic structures (eg, ventricular band, epiglottic petiole, and suprahyoid epiglottis); pre- and postoperative complications; overall survival; disease-specific survival (DSS); and disease-free survival (DFS)., Results: A total of 148 patients were included. The TLM was realized in 95.3% of cases. External counter pressure, partial, or total vestibulectomy were necessary in 65.9%, 57.4%, and 4.2% of cases, respectively. A resection of the epiglottic petiole was required in 24.8% of cases. The realization of both epiglottis petiole resection and vestibulectomies were significantly higher in patients with T2 and T1b SCCs compared to those with T1a and Tis SCCs ( P = .01). Different procedure tips were described for improving the laryngeal exposition. The 5-year laryngeal preservation rate, DSS, and DFS were significantly better in patients without SCC involvement of the anterior commissure, and did not vary according to the margin status. The laryngeal exposure difficulties did not impact the margin status., Conclusion: The exposure of glottis is possible in 95% of cases of early-stage vocal cord SCC but requires the use of several additional surgical procedures, especially for anterior commissure SCCs. The SCC involvement of the vocal fold anterior commissure is associated with lower DSS, DFS, and laryngeal preservation rate.

Objectives: Transoral CO 2 laser therapy represents the treatment of choice for early-stage laryngeal tumors. The anterior commissure involvement (ACI) is related to a worse local control and a lower rates of organ preservation. The objective of this study is to analyze the differences in survival, local control, and organ preservation in T1b glottic patients according to the presence of ACI., Methods: Observational prospective study in pT1b treated with transoral CO 2 laser between 2009 and 2014., Results: Forty patients (37 male and 3 female) with a mean age of 66.43 ± 8.16 years were recruited. Anterior commissure involvement was present in 70% of the patients. The 5-year specific cause survival was 91.66%, with 32.50% of local recurrences. Laryngeal preservation was 80%, being lower in the group with local recurrence ( P < .000). The involvement of the anterior commissure does not influence the organ preservation ( P = .548), the appearance of local recurrences ( P = .391), or the survival ( P = .33)., Conclusions: Transoral CO 2 laser therapy is an effective and reproducible treatment for early-stage laryngeal tumors. The results obtained are similar to previous studies, although they present discrepancies in relation to the role of the ACI. Prospective randomized trials are required focusing also on the patients' quality of life and functional outcome in order to clarify the role of the ACI and the need to implement changes in its evaluation, staging, and evolution.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential predictor of tumor size on rates of overall and disease-free survival (OS and DFS) as determined by postoperative pathologic examination in patients with glottic carcinoma., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Tertiary care university hospital., Subjects and Methods: In this study, 1337 consecutive patients with glottic carcinoma who underwent surgical treatment from 2005 to 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The influence of tumor size that was evaluated by tumor area (tumor length × tumor width) on OS and DFS outcomes was assessed by Cox regression analyses., Results: In all, 1303 (97.5%) patients were male, and 34 (2.5%) were female, with a mean ± SD age of 60.4 ± 10 years. The 10-year OS and DFS rates were 72.9% and 69.9%, respectively. The tumor area cutoff values that best discriminated OS and DFS rates were both 1.80 cm 2 . Patients with glottic carcinoma with a larger tumor area had inferior OS and DFS rates. Based on the results of multivariate analyses, tumor area was an independent prognostic factor for rates of OS (hazard ratio, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.37-2.56; P < .001) and DFS (hazard ratio, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.34-2.38; P < .001) in patients with glottic carcinoma., Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that patients with glottic carcinoma with a tumor area >1.8 cm 2 have inferior survival outcomes, and this factor independently predicts survival outcomes in these patients.

Background: The treatment of T1b glottic carcinomas with invasion of the anterior commissure (AC) is still a challenge in larynx oncology. The diversity in treatment protocols is due to the difficulty in achieving safety margins of resection, especially in the AC., Objective: The treatment success rate of frontolateral vertical partial laryngectomy (FVPL) for the treatment of stage T1b squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx infiltrating the AC., Material and Methods: Clinical data of patients, who were diagnosed with stage T1b squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx and who underwent a FVPL from 01/2003 to 12/2016 in our ENT clinic were retrospectively evaluated. Clinical and oncological outcomes were analyzed., Results: 39 patients were included in this study. The mean follow-up duration was 79.95 ± 20.59 months. Intraoperative R0 resection was achieved in all patients. In 33.3% patients, documented complications were tissue granulation and synechia formation in the glottic area. The 5-year recurrence-free survival was 82.1%, the 5-year overall survival rate 97.4%, and the 5-year laryngeal preservation rate 94.8%., Conclusion: Our clinical data demonstrate that T1b glottic carcinomas with invasion of the AC can be effectively treated with FVPL. The outcome is similar to other methods such as transoral laser microsurgery, supracricoidal partial laryngectomy, and radiotherapy.

Objectives: The primary objectives were to report oncologic outcomes of transoral laser microsurgery with potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser (TLM-KTP) ablation of early glottic cancer (EGC). The secondary objectives were to report vocal outcomes and to analyze factors that might influence outcomes., Methods: A multi-institutional, retrospective analysis of consecutive patients treated for T1 or T2 glottic squamous cell carcinoma undergoing TLM-KTP ablation with at least 2 years of follow-up was performed. Patients with prior radiation or surgery for laryngeal disease were excluded., Primary Outcome Measures Included: surgical failures requiring radiation or laryngectomy, disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS). Secondary outcome measures included: pre- and postoperative Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) scores. The effects of smoking status, stage, and anterior commissure involvement on outcomes were analyzed., Results: Overall 88 patients met inclusion criteria (83% male, 79.5% current or former smokers). Mean age was 68 (standard deviation (SD): 12). Mean follow-up was 39.5 months (SD: 15.3). Staging included 50 T1a, 21 T1b, and 20 T2 tumors, including three metachronous second primaries. Radiation and/or laryngectomy avoidance was achieved in 87/88 (98.9%) of patients, inclusive of 24 patients requiring KTP re-treatments. Two patients had biopsy-proven recurrence (2.3%), but only 21 of 24 re-treated patients received a formal biopsy. No patients died from laryngeal cancer. DSS and OS were 100% and 92.3%, respectively. The mean VHI-10 scores were 19.3 preoperatively, 3.8 at 6-months postop, and 3.8 at 2-years postop. Smokers had a longer interval to re-treatment ( P  = .03), patients with T2 lesions had a shorter interval to re-treatment (0.02), and patients with T2 lesions presented with worse initial VHI-10 scores (0.002)., Conclusions: A multi-institutional, retrospective case series of TLM-KTP ablation of EGC demonstrated excellent oncologic outcomes when close surveillance and proactive re-treatments were utilized. Disease-specific survival, overall survival, and vocal function were excellent. Additional studies are necessary to further analyze the merits and risks of this treatment approach.

Background: The association between pathological tumor size and predictive value in patients with supraglottic carcinoma who receive surgery is poorly understood. To gain further insight into this association, the influence of postoperative tumor size assessed via pathological evaluation on survival outcomes in patients with supraglottic carcinoma was fully analyzed., Materials and Methods: This study collected data from 375 consecutive supraglottic carcinoma patients who underwent primary surgical treatment between 2005 and 2010. The parameters of tumor size, including tumor diameter, tumor area, and tumor volume, were used to analyze the prognostic abilities of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in supraglottic carcinoma., Results: Twelve women and 363 men were included, with a mean age of 61.2 years. The 5-year OS and DFS rates were 65.4% and 56.2%, respectively. The mean tumor diameter, tumor area, and tumor volume of all patients was 3.1 cm, 8.6 cm 2 , and 9.1 cm 3 , respectively. Tumors with higher pT stages had a larger tumor diameter, tumor area, and tumor volume. These three factors were significantly correlated with pT stage, and tumor volume was the strongest factor contributing to pT stage. Patients with a larger tumor diameter, tumor area, and tumor volume had worse OS and DFS. Tumor area and tumor volume were independent prognostic factors of OS and DFS in supraglottic carcinoma patients., Conclusions: Patients with a larger tumor size have inferior survival outcomes, and tumor area and tumor volume are independent predictive parameters of survival in supraglottic carcinoma patients who are treated with primary surgery., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of Review: Pediatric posterior glottic stenosis (PGS) is a challenging clinical entity with multiple treatment options. This review describes the evaluation of patients with PGS and discusses existing surgical techniques., Recent Findings: PGS secondary to a distinct scar band between the vocal folds can often be effectively managed with endoscopic division and surveillance. More advanced glottic scarring that also involves the interarytenoid mucosa, cricoarytenoid joints, or subglottis merits a more thorough investigation and repair. A postcricoid mucosal advancement flap can be employed in select adolescent or adult PGS, but long-term cricoarytenoid joint mobility is difficult to restore once it has been fixed. Younger pediatric patients have smaller airways and frequent concurrent subglottic stenosis which is better addressed with cartilage grafting., Summary: Surgical success in pediatric PGS depends on careful preoperative airway assessment and the accurate characterization of airway stenosis. A surgical technique should be chosen based on the severity and extent of stenosis.

Objective: Guideline recommendations for the treatment of early-stage glottic cancer are limited to single-modality therapy with surgery or radiation alone. We sought to investigate the clinicopathologic and treatment factors associated with the use of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) following laser excision for patients with T1-T2N0 glottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)., Study Design: Retrospective observational study of the National Cancer Database., Setting: National Cancer Database review from 2004 to 2014., Patients and Methods: A total of 1338 patients with primary cT1-T2N0M0 glottic SCC undergoing primary laser excision were included. Hospitals were divided into quartiles based on yearly volume of laryngeal laser cases performed. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of PORT., Results: The overall rate of PORT was 30.0%. Predictors of PORT included treatment at lower-volume hospitals (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for quartiles 2-4, 1.32-4.84), positive margins (aOR, 3.83 [95% CI, 2.54-5.78]), and T2 tumors (aOR, 3.58 [95% CI, 2.24-5.74]). PORT utilization demonstrated a strong inverse correlation with hospital volume. Among top-quartile hospitals, the rate of PORT was 11.2%, while rates of PORT at second-, third-, and fourth-quartile institutions were 19.2%, 32.2%, and 37.4%, respectively., Conclusions: Predictors of PORT in multivariable analysis included treatment at lower-volume facilities, positive margins, and T2 disease. This study highlights the importance of treating early-stage glottic carcinoma at high-volume institutions. In addition, there is a need to reevaluate the use of PORT and reduce the rate of dual-modality therapy for patients with early-stage glottic SCC.