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Laryngology
Laryngology is a branch of medicine that deals with disorders, diseases and injuries of the larynx, colloquially known as the voice box. Laryngologists treat disorders of the larynx, including diseases that affects the voice, swallowing, or upper airway. Common conditions addressed by laryngologists include vocal fold nodules and cysts, laryngeal cancer, spasmodic dysphonia, laryngopharyngeal reflux, papillomas, and voice misuse/abuse/overuse syndromes. Dysphonia/hoarseness; laryngitis (including Reinke's edema, Vocal cord nodules and polyps); *Spasmodic dysphonia; dysphagia; Tracheostomy; Cancer of the larynx; and vocology (the science and practice of voice habilitation) are included in laryngology. Etymology of "laryngology" The word "laryngology" is derived from: * the Greek prefix λαρυγγ- (''laryng-'', root = λάρυγξ, meaning "larynx"), and * the Greek suffix -λογία (''-logy'', root = λόγος, meaning "the study of", or "knowledge"). Famous laryng ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
St Clair Thomson
Sir St Clair Thomson (28 July 1859 – 29 January 1943) was a British surgeon and professor of laryngology. Life Thomson was born at Fahan, County Donegal, Ireland the seventh child of the five sons and three daughters of John Gibson Thomson of Ardrishaig, Argyllshire, Scotland civil engineer, a pupil of Thomas Telford, and his wife Catherine, a daughter of John Sinclair of Lochaline House, Morven, Sound of Mull. He was educated at the village school in Ardrishaig till he was ten, when he went to study at King's School, Peterborough, later gaining medical experience in general practice while apprenticed to his eldest brother William Sinclair-Thomson MD. Thomson's medical studies, started privately, continued from 1877 at King's College London where he gained the qualifications MRCS (Member of the Royal College of Surgeons) in 1881 and MB (Bachelor of Medicine) in 1883. He then became house surgeon to Joseph Lister at King's College Hospital. Career Thomson went on to work at ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Felix Semon
Sir Felix Semon (8 December 18491 March 1921) was a German-British pioneer in neurobiology and a prominent laryngologist in the United Kingdom. He is responsible for Semon's law. Semon was born in Danzig, Prussia, the son of S. J. Semon, a Berlin stockbroker, and Henriette Aschenheim of Elbing. In 1868, he began his medical studies in Heidelberg and served as a volunteer during the Franco-Prussian War. Following the war, he resumed his studies in Berlin and took his medical degree in 1873. He studied in Vienna and Paris, specialising in diseases of the throat and nose. He moved to England because of the need for a laryngologist, joining the Throat Hospital in Golden Square, Westminster. He was a member of the Royal College of Physicians in 1876 and a fellow in 1885. He joined St Thomas' Hospital in 1882 and six years later the National Hospital for Epilepsy and Paralysis in Bloomsbury. In 1894, he was elected president of the Laryngological Society. He was knighted in 1897, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dysphonia
A hoarse voice, also known as dysphonia or hoarseness, is when the voice involuntarily sounds breathy, raspy, or strained, or is softer in volume or lower in pitch. A hoarse voice, can be associated with a feeling of unease or scratchiness in the throat. Hoarseness is often a symptom of problems in the vocal folds of the larynx. It may be caused by laryngitis, which in turn may be caused by an upper respiratory infection, a cold, or allergies. Cheering at sporting events, speaking loudly in noisy situations, talking for too long without resting one's voice, singing loudly, or speaking with a voice that's too high or too low can also cause temporary hoarseness. A number of other causes for losing one's voice exist, and treatment is generally by resting the voice and treating the underlying cause. If the cause is misuse or overuse of the voice, drinking plenty of water may alleviate the problems. It appears to occur more commonly in females and the elderly. Furthermore, certain occ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Laryngitis
Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx (voice box). Symptoms often include a hoarse voice and may include fever, cough, pain in the front of the neck, and trouble swallowing. Typically, these last under two weeks. Laryngitis is categorised as acute if it lasts less than three weeks and chronic if symptoms last more than three weeks. Acute cases usually occur as part of a viral upper respiratory tract infection, other infections and trauma such as from coughing are other causes. Chronic cases may occur due to smoking, tuberculosis, allergies, acid reflux, rheumatoid arthritis, or sarcoidosis. The underlying mechanism involves irritation of the vocal cords. Concerning signs that may require further investigation include stridor, history of radiation therapy to the neck, trouble swallowing, duration of more than three weeks, and a history of smoking. If concerning signs are present the vocal cords should be examined via laryngoscopy. Other conditions that can produce sim ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spasmodic Dysphonia
Spasmodic dysphonia, also known as laryngeal dystonia, is a disorder in which the muscles that generate a person's voice go into periods of spasm. This results in breaks or interruptions in the voice, often every few sentences, which can make a person difficult to understand. The person's voice may also sound strained or they may be nearly unable to speak. Onset is often gradual and the condition is lifelong. The cause is unknown. Risk factors may include family history. Triggers may include an upper respiratory infection, injury to the larynx, overuse of the voice, and psychological stress. The underlying mechanism is believed to typically involve the central nervous system, specifically the basal ganglia. Diagnosis is typically made following examination by a team of healthcare providers. It is a type of focal dystonia. While there is no cure, treatment may improve symptoms. Most commonly this involves injecting botulinum toxin into the affected muscles of the larynx. This ge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Morell Mackenzie
Sir Morell Mackenzie (7 July 1837 – 3 February 1892) was a British physician, one of the pioneers of laryngology in the United Kingdom. Biography Morell Mackenzie was born at Leytonstone, Essex, England on 7 July 1837. He was the eldest of nine children of Stephen Mackenzie (1803-1851), a general practitioner and surgeon, and Margaret Frances (died 1877), daughter of wine merchant Adam Harvey, of Lewes, East Sussex. He was educated at Dr Greig's school in Walthamstow and at King's College London. After going through the medical course at the London Hospital and becoming a member to the Royal College of Surgeons in 1858, he studied abroad in Paris, Vienna and Budapest where he learned the use of the newly invented laryngoscope under Johann Czermak. Returning to London in 1862, he worked at the London Hospital and earned his degree in medicine. In 1863 he won the Jacksonian prize at the Royal College of Surgeons for an essay on the ''Pathology and Treatment of Diseases ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vocal Fold Nodule
Vocal cord nodules are bilaterally symmetrical benign white masses that form at the midpoint of the vocal folds. Although diagnosis involves a physical examination of the head and neck, as well as perceptual voice measures, visualization of the vocal nodules via laryngeal endoscopy remains the primary diagnostic method. Vocal fold nodules interfere with the vibratory characteristics of the vocal folds by increasing the mass of the vocal folds and changing the configuration of the vocal fold closure pattern. Due to these changes, the quality of the voice may be affected. As such, the major perceptual signs of vocal fold nodules include vocal hoarseness and breathiness. Other common symptoms include vocal fatigue, soreness or pain lateral to the larynx, and reduced frequency and intensity range. Airflow levels during speech may also be increased. Vocal fold nodules are thought to be the result of vocal fold tissue trauma caused by excessive mechanical stress, including repeated or c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spasmodic Dysphonia
Spasmodic dysphonia, also known as laryngeal dystonia, is a disorder in which the muscles that generate a person's voice go into periods of spasm. This results in breaks or interruptions in the voice, often every few sentences, which can make a person difficult to understand. The person's voice may also sound strained or they may be nearly unable to speak. Onset is often gradual and the condition is lifelong. The cause is unknown. Risk factors may include family history. Triggers may include an upper respiratory infection, injury to the larynx, overuse of the voice, and psychological stress. The underlying mechanism is believed to typically involve the central nervous system, specifically the basal ganglia. Diagnosis is typically made following examination by a team of healthcare providers. It is a type of focal dystonia. While there is no cure, treatment may improve symptoms. Most commonly this involves injecting botulinum toxin into the affected muscles of the larynx. This ge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is the retrograde flow of gastric contents into the larynx, oropharynx and/or the nasopharynx. LPR causes respiratory symptoms such as cough and wheezing and is often associated with head and neck complaints such as dysphonia, globus pharyngis, and dysphagia. LPR may play a role in other diseases, such as sinusitis, otitis media, and rhinitis, and can be a comorbidity of asthma. While LPR is commonly used interchangeably with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), it presents with a different pathophysiology. LPR reportedly affects approximately 10% of the U.S. population. However, LPR occurs in as many as 50% of individuals with voice disorders. Signs and symptoms Extraesophageal symptoms result from exposure of the upper aerodigestive tract to gastric contents. This causes a variety of symptoms, including hoarseness, postnasal drip, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, indigestion, wheezing, globus pharyngeus, and chronic throat-c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Reinke's Edema
Reinke's edema is the swelling of the vocal cords due to fluid (edema) collected within the Reinke's space. First identified by the German anatomist Friedrich B. Reinke in 1895, the Reinke's space is a gelatinous layer of the vocal cord located underneath the outer cells of the vocal cord. When a person speaks, the Reinke's space vibrates to allow for sound to be produced ( phonation). The Reinke's space is sometimes referred to as the superficial lamina propria. Reinke's edema is characterized by the "sac-like" appearance of the fluid-filled vocal cords. The swelling of the vocal folds causes the voice to become deep and hoarse. Therefore, the major symptom of Reinke's edema is a hoarseness similar to laryngitis. The major cause associated with Reinke's edema is smoking. In fact, 97% of patients diagnosed with Reinke's edema are habitual smokers. Other identified risk factors include overuse of the vocal cords, gastroesophageal reflux, and hypothyroidism. The disease is m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vocal Cord Polyp
Vocal cord nodules are bilaterally symmetrical benign white masses that form at the midpoint of the vocal folds. Although diagnosis involves a physical examination of the head and neck, as well as perceptual voice measures, visualization of the vocal nodules via laryngeal endoscopy remains the primary diagnostic method. Vocal fold nodules interfere with the vibratory characteristics of the vocal folds by increasing the mass of the vocal folds and changing the configuration of the vocal fold closure pattern. Due to these changes, the quality of the voice may be affected. As such, the major perceptual signs of vocal fold nodules include vocal hoarseness and breathiness. Other common symptoms include vocal fatigue, soreness or pain lateral to the larynx, and reduced frequency and intensity range. Airflow levels during speech may also be increased. Vocal fold nodules are thought to be the result of vocal fold tissue trauma caused by excessive mechanical stress, including repeated or ch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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