A Novel Gel Pad Laryngeal Ultrasound for Vocal Cord Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Laryngeal ultrasound (LUS) is a new method for vocal cord evaluation in patients with risk of vocal cord palsy (VCP). However, the previously described LUS reportedly had a high failure rate of vocal cord visualization in male patients. A novel gel pad LUS was devised to overcome the limitations of the previous method.

METHODS: A total of 482 (100 male) consecutive LUS and direct laryngoscopy examinations were performed in thyroidectomy and other neck surgery patients. The conventional LUS and gel pad LUS were used for all patients. Findings were independently cross-validated with direct laryngoscopy.

RESULTS: The conventional LUS and gel pad LUS methods had a 93.4% and 99.0% visualization rate, respectively, with a sensitivity of 98.0% for both methods, and a specificity of 99.7% and 99.8%, respectively. Among the 482 patients, 51 patients had VCP and 91 patients had diffuse thyroid cartilage calcification interrupting LUS.

CONCLUSION: The new gel pad LUS method significantly enhances the visualization of vocal cords in patients who have diffuse thyroid cartilage calcification interrupting LUS and, therefore, the overall efficacy of LUS as a perioperative diagnostic tool for VCP.