Late laryngeal findings in sulfur mustard poisoning.
BACKGROUND
Sulfur mustard is an alkylating warfare agent and its inhalation results in early and late toxic effects. This agent was used widely against both military and civilian population by Iraqi forces in the Iran-Iraq war (1983-88). The purpose of the study was to describe abnormal laryngeal findings in a group of chemical war injury patients (soldiers) 20 years after an acute exposure to sulfur mustard.


METHODS
In this observational case series study, 50 male patients who were suffering from chronic respiratory symptoms and because of exacerbation of these problems, were consecutively selected and clinically examined for dysphonia by a speech-language pathologist, and then underwent fiberoptic laryngobronchoscopy to describe anatomical and functional pathologic findings of the larynx.


RESULTS
In objective speech evaluation, different degrees of dysphonia including harshness and hoarseness were observed in 46% of patients. Inflammation was present in supraglottic and subglottic regions of 9 (18%) and 3 (6%) patients, respectively. Hyperfunction of the false vocal cords was observed in 24 (48%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic laryngitis was seen in a considerable number of exposed victims nearly 20 years after exposure, in spite of different treatments received.
Akhavan
Asghar
A
Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. dr_akhavan_ent@yahoo.com
Ajalloueyan
Mohammad
M
Ghanei
Mostafa
M
Moharamzad
Yashar
Y
D000328:Adult; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000506:poisoning*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007830:Larynx / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000506:poisoning*; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013997:Time Factors; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000187:drug effects
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D009151:Mustard Gas