Alexander NL, Wang KY, Jiang KZ, Ongkasuwan J, Lincoln CM. Volumetric Analysis of the Vocal Folds Using Computed Tomography: Effects of Age, Height, and Gender.
Laryngoscope 2020;
131:E240-E247. [PMID:
32898927 DOI:
10.1002/lary.28750]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to use computed tomography (CT) volumetric analysis to assess the effect of age, gender, height, body mass index (BMI), and ethnicity on vocal fold volume in patients with normal larynges.
STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective cross-sectional study.
METHODS
Vocal fold length, width, and height were measured in a total of 105 patients without a history of laryngeal or thyroid pathology on thin-section soft-tissue neck CTs. The product of the three dimensions was used to calculate vocal fold volume. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess for an association between vocal fold volume and age, gender, height, BMI, and ethnicity. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were estimated to evaluate the degree interobserver and intraobserver agreement.
RESULTS
Vocal fold volume was not associated with age, BMI, or ethnicity. Gender-adjusted height (P = .002) and height-adjusted gender (P = .016) were significantly associated with volume. Height remained significantly associated with volume after stratifying by gender (P < 0.001). There was moderate-to-good correlation in both interobserver (ICC = 0.690 to 0.761) and intraobserver (ICC = 0.733 to 0.873) agreement.
CONCLUSION
Age was not associated with vocal fold volume, which is in accordance with several prior negative studies. Age-related vocal fold atrophy may not substantially contribute to presbyphonia symptoms, but other processes such as changes in the extracellular matrix may play a larger role. However, both gender and height were independently associated with vocal fold volume.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
4 Laryngoscope, 131:E240-E247, 2021.
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