Abstract
A pilot study of the pyriform sinuses simultaneously visualized by video-fluoroscopy and fiberoptic video techniques utilizing two microphones and a synchronizing signal was carried out on seven patients. Patients were requested to breathe quietly, sniff, cough, clear their throats, whisper, yawn, phonate a low pitched “ah” and a high pitched “e”, as well as phonate on inspiration. On comparative study of the video tapes, variable findings were noted during the several phonatory efforts with the high pitched “e”. These presently remain unexplained. Sniffing by patients with paretic, paramedian, or intermediate paralysis of the vocal cords allowed us to see a progressive lack of descent and closure of the involved sinus. In addition, the anteromedial margins were less vigorously sucked inward and downward and even made to flutter on the involved side. Such a combined method of visualization appears to hold promise for additional delineation of the range of normal as well as further identification of abnormal function of the laryngopharynx.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.