Sonographic evaluation of the endochondral ossification process of the thyroid cartilage in children

Laryngeal cartilage calcifications on lateral cephalometric radiographs

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of age and gender on the incidence of calcification in laryngeal cartilage diagnosed on lateral cephalometric radiographs routinely taken for orthodontic diagnosis. The lateral cephalometric radiographs of 957 patients who met the study criteria were analyzed from among the 1000 lateral radiographs originally collected. The images were evaluated independently by two investigators. Given the dichotomous dependent variable (calcification or no calcification), a mixed logistic regression model was used to test how age and gender affected calcification. The effect of age and gender reliably determined the likelihood of laryngeal cartilage calcification. The greatest differences in the degree of calcification by gender were found at ages 20-25 years. The degree of calcification increased with age, reaching 100% in women at age 30 and in men at age 50. In women, the degree of calcification was higher than in men from the age of 13 years and levelled off at the age of 50 years. The interrater agreement was strong k = 0.97, z = 30.0, p < .001. Calcification can be detected by orthodontists trained in lateral cephalogram analysis and can be used as a screening or diagnostic tool to detect calcified areas in the larynx.

Non-Traumatic Laryngeal Fractures: A Systematic Review

Non-traumatic laryngeal fractures are an extremely uncommon presentation, and the diagnosis can be missed. Recognizing these fractures is important to appropriately direct management because most have a good prognosis and result in complete recovery. This article aimed to review the characteristics of all documented cases of non-traumatic fractures of the larynx. We sought to address questions related to the etiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic assessment of this condition and provide recommendations about the management of these fractures. Electronic databases, mainly PubMed and Google Scholar, were searched for relevant literature with no language or time restrictions. Since 1950, 15 cases of non-traumatic laryngeal fractures have been documented in the medical literature. Out of these, thyroid cartilage fractures have been described in 14 patients, while only one instance demonstrated a fracture in the cricoid cartilage. Patients were managed conservatively using voice rest and observation with complete recovery in all cases. All patients who present with odynophagia, hoarseness, and tenderness over the thyroid cartilage after an episode of severe coughing or sneezing, should be evaluated for a thyroid cartilage fracture using laryngoscopy and computed tomography scan. Management of the airway should be the primary priority in any laryngeal injury, and further management performed after the airway is stable.

Anthropological analysis of trauma in throat bone and cartilage: A review

In their analysis of recovered human remains, forensic anthropologists encounter structures of the throat (hyoid bone, thyroid cartilage/bone, cricoid cartilage/bone) that may present evidence of trauma. The recent published literature provides guidelines for the detection and interpretation of fractures in these tissues. Such traumatic injury frequently is associated with victims of hanging and strangulation, but many other causes have been recognized. Although the hyoid is not always recovered in skeletonized remains, it can reveal evidence of perimortem trauma and must be interpreted appropriately.