Published in:
01-12-2018 | Laryngology
Evaluation of upper esophageal sphincter in benign vocal lesions
Published in: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology | Issue 12/2018
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Purpose
To evaluate upper esophageal sphincter (UES) activity in patients with benign glottic lesions.
Methods
Twenty-three patients with benign vocal fold (VF) lesions scheduled for manometric evaluation were enrolled as the study group (SG); 20 healthy subjects without vocal pathology or dysphagia were included as the control group (CG). UES residual, basal, relaxation time and peak pharyngeal pressures were evaluated by manometry. The reflux symptom index (RSI) and reflux finding score (RFS) were used to estimate the clinical findings of laryngopharyngeal reflux, and the voice handicap index (VHI) was measured in both groups. The patients’ data were compared using the Mann–Whitney test and t test.
Results
The diagnoses in the SG were vocal nodules, vocal polyps, vocal cysts, sulcus vocalis, or Reinke’s edema. The evaluation scores (RSI, RFS, and VHI) were significantly higher in the SG than in the CG (P < 0.05). UES basal and relaxation pressures, relaxation time, and peak pharyngeal pressures did not differ between the SG and the CG (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
UES manometric pressure was similar in patients with VF mucosal lesions and controls. Studies involving larger populations are necessary to confirm the manometric changes in the UES and to elucidate the pathogenesis of benign VF lesions.