Results of magnetic resonance imaging assessment, acoustic analysis, phonatory function and perceptual rating of glottic insufficiency before and after fat augmentation: correlated with subjective rating.

Autogenous fat augmentation has been proven effective in the treatment of glottic insufficiency (GI) using both subjective and objective methods of evaluation. However, no information is available in published research regarding the effectiveness and predictability of value parameters with regard to patients' perceptions and concerns. This article retrospectively examines the correlation between subjective and objective examinations and subjective ratings (SRs) in patients with presbylaryngis (n = 14) and sulcus vocalis (n = 2). Acoustic analysis, phonatory function, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment, and perceptual rating data were evaluated against SRs using pre- and postoperative test results in 16 patients. The mean time over which subjective and objective examinations were performed was 10 months. Twelve patients reported excellent results, while no change was observed in 4 patients. When compared against SR, the kappa value of jitter, shimmer, harmonic to noise ratio, phonation time, grade, roughness, breathiness, and MRI were 0.25, 0, -0.08, -0.11, -0.11, 0.18, 0, and 1, respectively. The agreement between the MRI and SR values was complete, and was the only relationship shown to be significant (p < 0.001). MRI assessment is an effective and reliable examination tool which can be considered for use in assessing the progress of the post-fat injection operation in GI patients during follow-up examinations. Furthermore, due to the excellent agreement between MRI assessment and the patients' subjective feelings, the SR value may serve as a good index of fat survival. Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel