Hoarseness (Dysphonia) Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is dysphonia?
Difficulty producing sound with change in voice pitch or quality. Normally due to viral URTI.
Why should you investigate hoarseness lasting more than 3 weeks?
Suspect laryngeal carcinoma (especially in smokers)
What are the causes of dysphonia?
- Laryngitis
- Vocal cord palsy
- GORD
- Reinke’s oedema
- Vocal cord nodules
- Laryngeal cancer
Which nerve is damaged in vocal cord palsy, what does it innervate, and where does it originate from?
- Recurrent laryngeal
- Intrinsic muscle of larynx except cricothyroid
- Originates from CN X
What is this a presentation of?
Weak ‘breathy’ voice with a weak cough, repeated coughing/aspiration, exertional dyspnoea.
Vocal cord palsy
What are the two main causes of vocal cord palsy?
- Cancers
2. Iatrogenic (after surgery)
How is a suspected vocal cord palsy investigated?
- Chest x-ray
- CT
- USS thyroid
- OGD
What is the management for GORD?
PPI, diet modification, weight loss
What is this a presentation of?
Women says she sounds like a man, smoker, deep and gruff voice.
Reinke’s oedema
What is the management for Reinke’s oedema?
Stop smoking, laser therapy may help
What is this a presentation of?
Singer who has trouble with technique, shouts and screams a lot, husky voice.
Vocal cord nodules
What is the management for vocal cord nodules?
Speech therapy, surgical excision
