Spindle-shaped glottis: Sulcus vocalis, presbilarynx and other causes

Abstract

Spindle-shaped glottal insufficiency may appear at any age. This disorder significantly affect the voice quality and hence the life quality. Degenerative, neuromuscular, inflammatory, functional, iatrogenic and psychogenic originated pathologies can lead to spindle-shaped glottal insufficiency. Sulcus vocalis, vocal scars and presbylarynx constitutes degenerative causes. The term sulcus vocalis is used to describe a groove at the free edge of the vocal folds resulting in an area of mucosal stiffness and giving the vocal folds a bowed aspect during phonation. It may involve all or any segment of the edge of the fold. The defect may be confined to the superficial layer of the mucosa or penetrate deeply in the vocal ligament and muscle. According to involvement, three types have been described. Etiology remains controversial and the authors present arguments for each theory, acquired or congenital. The term ‘presbylarynx\' denotes vocal changes due to aging of the larynx. Symptoms are characterized by poor vocal projection, shorter phonation duration and vocal roughness. Videolaryngostroboscopy is a highly effective diagnostic tool for spindle-shaped glottal insufficiency. The glottis is spindle-shaped during phonation and vibration is frequently asymmetrical and reduced in amplitude. Because of closing defects; median line air leakage is observed in the anterior two-thirds of the vocal folds during phonation. Treatment options include phonosurgery and speech therapy in spindle-shaped glottis. The aim of the present paper is to review the reasons of vocal fold curvature, particularly presbylarynx and sulcus vocalis, and the clinical features of spindle-shaped glottal insufficiency.

Keywords

• Voice, vocal folds, dysphonia

İğ şekilli glotis: Sulkus vokalis, presbilarenks ve diğer nedenler

Abstract

İğ şekilli glotik yetersizlik, her yaşta karşımıza çıkabilir. Bu bozukluk, ses kalitesini ve dolayısıyla yaşam kalitesini bozar. Dejeneratif, nöromüsküler, enflamatuvar, fonksiyonel, yatrojen ve psikojen nedenli patolojiler iğ şekilli glotik yetersizliğe yol açabilir. Sulcus vocalis, skarlar ve presbilarenks dejeneratif nedenleri oluşturur. Sulcus vocalis, ses kıvrımında mukozal sertlik oluşturan bir alana neden olmakta, mukoza dalgalarının normal yayılımını engellemekte ve ses kıvrımında yaylanmaya neden olmaktadır. Sulkus vokalis, mukozanın yüzeysel tabakasına sınırlı olabilir veya derindeki vokal ligamanı ve kası penetre edebilir. Tutuluma göre üç tipi tarif edilmiştir. Etiyolojisi halen net değildir. Konjenital veya edinsel olduğuna yönelik tartışmalar devam etmektedir. Presbilarenks, ileri yaşlarda larenksin yaşlanmasına bağlı olarak gelişen, zayıf vokal projeksiyon (kısık, zayıf, hava kaçaklı) ve kısa fonasyon süresi semptomları ile karakterize değişiklikleri ifade eder. Videolarengostroboskobi, iğ şekilli glotis teşhisinde oldukça faydalı bir cihazdır. Fonasyon sırasında iğ şekilli glotise neden olan ses kıvrımlarının serbest kenarında kavislenmiş (yaylanmış, kıvrılmış) görünüm, en önemli fizik muayene bulgusudur. Ses kıvrımlarında kapanma defekti nedeniyle 2/3 ön kısmında hava kaçağı gözlenir. Amplitüt genişliğinde azalma vardır. Vibrasyon sıklıkla asimetriktir. İğ şekilli glotiste tedavi seçenekleri cerrahi ve ses terapisidir. Bu yazıda sulcus vocalis ve presbilarenks gibi sık olmakla beraber çoğunlukla atlanan patolojiler başta olmak üzere iğ şekilli glotik yetersizlik nedenleri literatür eşliğinde gözden geçirilmiştir.

Keywords

• Ses, ses telleri, disfoni

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