Hoarseness and voice changes

Question 1

risk factors for serious etiologies for hoarseness

Answer 1

smoking, ETOH use
immunocompromised state
persistent hoarseness after trauma or surgery or intubation or neck surgery

Question 2

clinical findings of hoarseness that merit further workup

Answer 2

-hemoptysis, dysphagia or -odynophagia
-stridor, throat pain
-unexplained weight loss
-worsening hoarseness
-ear pain, cough, and SOB without associated URI symptoms
neck mass or neurological symtpoms

Question 3

what causes hoarseness

Answer 3

disorders of the larynx (esp after vibiratory edge of vocal cords)

edema, hemorrhagic, laceration or mass lesions can alter capacity of vocal cords

Question 4

chronic hoarseness that is benign

Answer 4

GERD, post nasal gtt

Question 5

criteria for new evaluation for hoarseness:

Answer 5

> 2 weeks of symptoms not explained by URI increases risk for malignant etiology and needs to have a ENT get a laryngoscopy

Question 6

when to get imaging for evaluation of hoarseness?

Answer 6

evaluation after laryngoscopy

Question 7

when do we use voice therapy and voice rest for hoarseness?

Answer 7

when hoarseness is due to overuse, acute laryngitis or laryngeal edema or hemorrhage.