title: Prognostic Relevance of Mucosal Waves in Patients With Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the prognostic relevance of mucosal waves (MWs) for recovery of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The charts and stroboscopic examinations of 100 consecutive patients with a complete UVP were reviewed retrospectively. All had a minimal (estimated <3 mm) mucosal gap on stroboscopy. A positive or negative MW on the paralyzed vocal fold was associated with complete recovery to full adduction and abduction. All patients were followed for at least 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Causes of the paralysis were iatrogenic/traumatic (n = 82), malignancy associated (n = 10), and idiopathic (n = 8). In patients with positive MW at diagnosis (n = 80), the chance of recovery of unilateral vocal fold paralysis was 91.25%, whereas the chance of recovery with a negative mucosal wave (n = 20) was only 10%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positive MWs in stroboscopy are a predictor for recovery of (iatrogenic/traumatic) unilateral vocal fold paralysis and should be used in routine diagnostic assessment.
authors.affiliation: Section of Phoniatrics and Pedaudiology, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany rudolf.reiter@uniklinik-ulm.de.
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Technical University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pickhard
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, University of Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.affiliation: Section of Phoniatrics and Pedaudiology, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brosch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D049489:Stroboscopy; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: microstroboscopy; mucosal wave; recovery; unilateral vocal fold paralysis