Abstract Objective: To analyze the reliability of estimating the percentage of rhinopharyngeal obstruction by the adenoid using nasofibroscopy and its correlation with clinical symptoms. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study was conducted, involving 80 patients between 4 and 14 years old, recruited from Santa Casa of São Paulo general otorhinolaryngology outpatient service during the years of 2020 and 2021. All patients underwent nasal endoscopy examination, and the recorded videos were randomly assigned to four evaluators in two different sessions, with a minimum interval of 1 month. The evaluators estimated the percentage of rhinopharyngeal obstruction caused by the adenoid. Intra- and inter-evaluator correlations were established by comparing the reports from each evaluator. The data were compared to the Pro Image J Software report, that also estimates a percentage of obstruction by computer graphics. To correlate the grading of obstruction with clinical symptoms, all patients completed the OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) 18 questionnaire, a validated tool for assessing sleep apnea in children. The questionnaire data were then compared to the average scores assigned by the evaluators. Results: Satisfactory intra- and inter-rater correlations were observed, and the results were consistent with the Pro Image J Software. However, no correlation was found between the percentage of obstruction and the severity of clinical symptoms. Conclusion: Nasofibroscopy demonstrates good reliability in assessing a percentage of rhinopharyngeal obstruction caused by adenoids. However, there is no correlation between the degree of obstruction of the rhinopharynx and the clinical symptoms. Level of evidence: 4.

O plano supraglótico representa uma importante dimensão na produção vocal, sendo de grande relevância sua caracterização na avaliação e conduta terapêutica de indivíduos disfônicos. OBJETIVO: Verificar se determinadas configurações glóticas se relacionam com ajustes específicos de trato vocal. Avaliar por meio da nasofibrolaringoscopia a freqüência dos ajustes do trato vocal supraglótico em mulheres disfônicas com nódulos, fendas e cistos. MÉTODO: Foram avaliadas 31 mulheres disfônicas, faixa etária entre 18 e 45 anos, com alteração vocal e diagnóstico de nódulos, fenda médioposterior e cisto e realizada avaliação resumida do sistema sensório-motor e oral e exames de videolaringoestroboscopia e nasofibrolaringoscopia. Três grupos distintos foram selecionados: pacientes com nódulos bilaterais, com fenda e com cisto, com configurações glóticas semelhantes. Foi realizada, por fonoaudiólogas e otorrinolaringologistas, a análise visual do trato vocal dos exames de nasofibrolaringoscopia, verificando os parâmetros de: constrição supraglótica, mobilidade vertical da laringe, constrição faríngea e mobilidade de língua. Os dados foram descritos e tratados estatisticamente. RESULTADOS: Na análise visual não foi encontrada diferença estatística significante que separasse os grupos das alterações glóticas. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve correlação dos ajustes do trato supraglótico com determinado tipo de alteração glótica. São comportamentos individuais que geram os ajustes e justificam as diferentes qualidades vocais em pacientes com mesmo tipo de alteração laríngea.

The supraglottic plan represents an important dimension in vocal production, and its characterization is very important in the evaluation and treatment approach of dysphonic individuals. AIM: to check if certain glottic configurations are related to specific adjustments in the vocal tract. To use nasal and laryngeal fibroscopy to assess the frequency of supraglottic vocal tract adjustments in dysphonic women with nodules, clefts and cysts. METHODS: We assessed 31 dysphonic women, with age ranging between 18 and 45 years, with vocal alteration and a diagnosis of nodules, middle-posterior cleft and cyst, and we carried out a summarized evaluation of the sensory-motor and oral systems and the patients were submitted to video-laryngostroboscopy and nasal and laryngeal fibroscopy. Three distinct groups were selected: patients with bilateral nodules, clefts and cysts, with similar glottic configuration. Their vocal tracts were visually analyzed through exams of nasal and laryngeal fibroscopy, by speech and hearing therapists and otorhinolaryngologists, checking the following parameters: supraglottic constriction, larynx vertical mobility, pharyngeal constriction and tongue mobility. The data was statistically described and treated. RESULTS: during visual analysis we did not find statistically significant differences which would separate the glottic alterations groups. CONCLUSION: There was no correlation between supraglottic tract adjustments with any particular type of glottic alteration. These are individual behaviors that generate adjustments and justify the different vocal qualities in patients with the same type of laryngeal alteration.

A laringe é extremamente sensível a mudanças endocrinológicas. A maioria das alterações da mucosa das pregas vocais é causada por modificações do conteúdo líquido das pregas vocais e das suas modificações epiteliais. O estrógeno e a progesterona interferem e modificam esse conteúdo líquido das pregas vocais. O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar a presença de receptores de estrógeno e progesterona no epitélio das pregas vocais de mulheres. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudo de casos prospectivos. Foram realizados exames de imunohistoquímica para receptores de estrógeno e progesterona em 19 espécimes de epitélio de pregas vocais que não apresentavam quaisquer indícios de afecção, inclusive inflamatória. Foram descartados casos de pacientes com idade superior a 40 anos e inferior a 15 anos. RESULTADOS: Foram encontrados receptores para progesterona em 18 de 19 pacientes. Os receptores de progesterona estão localizados tanto no núcleo quanto no citoplasma e principalmente na camada basal. Não houve nenhum caso de receptores de estrógeno nas pregas vocais. CONCLUSÃO: O epitélio das pregas vocais apresenta receptores para progesterona, tanto no citoplasma quanto no núcleo. Não foram encontrados receptores para estrógeno no epitélio das pregas vocais estudadas.

Larynx is extremely sensitive to endocrinologic changes. Most vocal fold mucosa alterations are caused by changes in vocal fold liquid content and its epithelial changes. Estrogen and progesterone interfere and change this liquid content in the vocal folds. Our goal with the present paper is to study the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors on vocal fold epithelium in 19 vocal fold epithelium specimens that did not present any indication of disease, especially inflammatory disease. We discarded those cases of patients above 40 years of age and those below 15. RESULTS: we found progesterone receptors in 18 of the 19 patients. The progesterone receptors are located both in the nucleus and the cytoplasm of cells, and mainly in the basal layer. There was no report of estrogen receptors present in the vocal folds. CONCLUSION: Vocal fold epithelium bears progesterone receptors, in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus. We did not find estrogen receptors in the epithelia of the vocal folds investigated.