title: Current evidence for the organic etiology of spastic dysphonia.
abstract: For over 100 years it has been universally assumed in the literature that spastic dysphonia is a functional or psychoneurotic voice disorder. In the last few years, new data have accumulated that support the concept that spastic dysphonia is caused by an organic, rather than a functional, abnormality. Histologic examination of segments of the recurrent laryngeal nerve removed from patients with spastic dysphonia has revealed myelin abnormalities in 30% of the nerves examined. Neurologic examination indicated brain stem or basal ganglia disturbances in some patients who had no apparent nerve disease.
mesh_terms: D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003094:Collagen; D006801:Humans; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000473:pathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000294:innervation; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen