title: [Evaluation of the ultrastructure of the vocal folds mucosa in patients with presbyphonia].
abstract: Ultrastructure of the vocal folds mucosa was evaluated in 50 elderly patients. Study material included larynx specimens obtained from autopsy and postoperative material after the total laryngectomy due to the cancer of recessus piriformis with unchanged vocal folds. The ultrastructure of tunica mucosa was evaluated by means of the transmission electron microscopy with the use of Opton 900-PC microscope. In the control group the multilayer flat epithelium was found with the folded basal membrane, a large number of pericytes, scarce collagenous fibers in the stroma. The voice disturbances which occur during presbyphonia are conditioned by morphological changes in the epithelium, the basal membrane and the stroma of the vocal folds mucosa. Destruction of the epithelium cells with the enhanced vacuolar degeneration and enlarged intercellular spaces indicated oedemic character of presbyphonia. An increased number of collagenous fibers, vacuolar degeneration of fibroblasts with enlarged granular endoplasmic reticulum and an increased number of blood vessels in the stroma suggested an atrophic form of presbyphonia.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Otolaryngologii AM w Białymstoku.
authors.forename: Bozena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kosztyła-Hojna
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrzejewska
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rogowski
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pepiński
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007820:Laryngeal Mucosa / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen