Anton Chen1, C Gaelyn Garrett. 1. Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center for Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Nashville, TN, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine the incidence of voice disturbance as a presenting symptom of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and describe laryngologic features of ALS. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. METHODS: Records of patients with voice disturbance at a voice center and ALS patients at a neurology clinic were reviewed from January 1998 to March 2003. RESULTS: 15 of 1759 patients with voice disturbance were later diagnosed with ALS. Of 220 ALS patients presenting to neurology clinic, 44 had bulbar symptoms and 19 had initially presented to an otolaryngologist. Dysarthria, dysphagia, tongue fasciculation, and incomplete vocal fold closure were common findings. Neuromuscular disease was missed in 8 of 19 ALS patients seen by an otolaryngologist. CONCLUSIONS: Although otolaryngologists rarely encounter undiagnosed ALS patients, a significant portion of bulbar ALS patients are initially evaluated by otolaryngologists. SIGNIFICANCE: Vigilance for neuromuscular abnormalities on otolaryngologic exam is important in patients who present with dysarthria, dysphonia, or dysphagia. EBM RATING: C.
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine the incidence of voice disturbance as a presenting symptom of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and describe laryngologic features of ALS. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. METHODS: Records of patients with voice disturbance at a voice center and ALSpatients at a neurology clinic were reviewed from January 1998 to March 2003. RESULTS: 15 of 1759 patients with voice disturbance were later diagnosed with ALS. Of 220 ALSpatients presenting to neurology clinic, 44 had bulbar symptoms and 19 had initially presented to an otolaryngologist. Dysarthria, dysphagia, tongue fasciculation, and incomplete vocal fold closure were common findings. Neuromuscular disease was missed in 8 of 19 ALSpatients seen by an otolaryngologist. CONCLUSIONS: Although otolaryngologists rarely encounter undiagnosed ALSpatients, a significant portion of bulbar ALSpatients are initially evaluated by otolaryngologists. SIGNIFICANCE: Vigilance for neuromuscular abnormalities on otolaryngologic exam is important in patients who present with dysarthria, dysphonia, or dysphagia. EBM RATING: C.
Authors: E K Plowman; L C Tabor; R Robison; J Gaziano; C Dion; S A Watts; T Vu; C Gooch Journal: Neurogastroenterol Motil Date: 2015-10-28 Impact factor: 3.598
Authors: Deanna Britton; Joshua O Benditt; Albert L Merati; Robert M Miller; Cara E Stepp; Louis Boitano; Amanda Hu; Marcia A Ciol; Kathryn M Yorkston Journal: Dysphagia Date: 2014-07-19 Impact factor: 3.438