Sonographic Utilisation in the Detection of Vocal Cord Palsy in Symptomatic Patients and in Those with Risk Factors for Cord Palsy

Aims and Background: Ultrasound (US) is useful for imaging the head and neck, including laryngeal disorders. The gold standard for diagnosing laryngeal abnormalities is flexible laryngoscopy; however, because US does not interfere with vocal cord vibrations and is useful in assessing vocal cord mobility issues, it is especially helpful for individuals who have an enhanced gag reflex. Materials and Methods: Eighty-six participants in prospective observational research were gathered in a tertiary care hospital between June 2022 and June 2024. Following informed consent, the patients were selected for the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Using US grading, they underwent video-laryngoscopy and US neck to detect vocal cord palsy, and the data were tabulated and statistically analysed. Results: US can be used to assess vocal cord palsy, and various grading systems have been proposed to classify the severity of vocal cord dysfunction based on US findings. One commonly used grading system is the Aston Grade or Aston Classification, which categorises vocal cord palsy into four grades. Causes of cord palsy can be identified noninvasively like vocal cord polyps and neoplasms, and correlated with gold standard video-laryngoscopy. Conclusion: While US is a valuable tool for evaluating vocal cord function, assessing its specificity in diagnosing vocal cord palsy requires careful consideration of various factors, including operator expertise, equipment quality and patient characteristics. Despite challenges in specificity assessment, US remains an important adjunctive imaging modality in the diagnostic evaluation of vocal cord dysfunction.