A Comparison of Initial and Subsequent Follow-Up Strobovideolaryngoscopic Examinations in Singers.
OBJECTIVES
Previous studies have identified abnormal findings in up to 86.1% of singers on initial screening strobovideolaryngoscopy (SVL) examinations. No studies have compared the prevalence of abnormalities in singers on their subsequent follow-up SVL. Our study evaluates the frequency of these findings in both the initial and subsequent examinations.


METHODS
Retrospective charts and SVL reports were reviewed on students from an opera conservatory from 1993 to 2014. All students had initial screening SVL, but only students who later returned with acute voice complaints were included in the study (n = 51, 137 follow-up visits). Normal SVL was defined as an examination without structural or functional abnormalities and reflux finding score ≤7. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test.


RESULTS
For initial examinations, 90.2% (including reflux) and 88.2% (excluding reflux) were abnormal. In follow-up examinations, 94.9% (including reflux) and 94.2% (excluding reflux) had abnormal findings, which included muscle tension dysphonia (40.1%), vocal fold (VF) masses (unilateral 48.9%, bilateral 30.7%), vascular abnormalities (unilateral 27.0%, bilateral 5.8%), sulcus (unilateral 17.5%, bilateral 5.1%), VF hypomobility (unilateral 36.3%, bilateral 5.9%), phase (30.6%) and amplitude (44.8%) asymmetries, and glottic insufficiency (49.3%). Follow-up examinations revealed a significant increase in laryngopharyngeal reflux (χ(2) = 7.043; P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We found a higher prevalence of abnormal findings compared with previous studies, which we attributed to a more inclusive definition of abnormal pathologies, improvements in SVL technology, and possibly increased experience with SVL interpretation. This high prevalence of abnormal findings in asymptomatic singers further supports the importance of baseline examinations.
['Myint|Calvin|C|', 'Moore|Jaime Eaglin|JE|', 'Hu|Amanda|A|', 'Jaworek|Aaron J|AJ|', 'Sataloff|Robert T|RT|']
D000328:Adult D016009:Chi-Square Distribution D055154:Dysphonia D005260:Female D005500:Follow-Up Studies D006801:Humans D007828:Laryngoscopy D007830:Larynx D008297:Male D009790:Occupations D015143:Philadelphia D010699:Phonation D011237:Predictive Value of Tests D015995:Prevalence D012189:Retrospective Studies D012307:Risk Factors D063346:Singing D049489:Stroboscopy D013997:Time Factors D014741:Video Recording D014833:Voice Quality D055815:Young Adult
Strobovideolaryngoscopy Dysphonia Stroboscopy Voice abnormalities in singers Voice pathology in asymptomatic singers