Videostroboscopy Explained

Videostroboscopy is a high-speed medical imaging method used to visualize the dynamics of human vocal fold vibration.

When stimulated by the pressure of breath exhaled from the lungs, the two vocal folds (also known as vocal cords) open and close rapidly. This process is called phonation and produces the sound of the human voice.

During phonation, the vocal folds open and close too rapidly for the unassisted eye to observe their movement. This poses a problem to clinicians because abnormalities in these movements are often indicative of a voice disorder. Videostroboscopy is one method by which this problem is overcome.

The clinician uses an endoscope containing an embedded video camera and stroboscope, which is passed through the nasal passage and into the pharynx of the subject, who then initiates phonation and vocalizes while the vocal folds are recorded. In the resulting stroboscopic video recording, the vocal folds appear slow enough to observe the precise nature of the movement, enabling the diagnosis of a range of problems.^{[1] [2] [3]}

See also

• Videokymography
• Human voice
• Voice disorders

Notes and References

1. Mehta DD, Hillman RE. Current role of stroboscopy in laryngeal imaging. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012 Dec;20(6):429-36.
2. Dejonckere PH, Bradley P, Clemente P, Cornut G, Crevier-Buchman L, Friedrich G, Van De Heyning P, Remacle M, Woisard V., Committee on Phoniatrics of the European Laryngological Society (ELS). A basic protocol for functional assessment of voice pathology, especially for investigating the efficacy of (phonosurgical) treatments and evaluating new assessment techniques. Guideline elaborated by the Committee on Phoniatrics of the European Laryngological Society (ELS). Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2001 Feb;258(2):77-82.
3. Powell ME, Deliyski DD, Hillman RE, Zeitels SM, Burns JA, Mehta DD. Comparison of Videostroboscopy to Stroboscopy Derived From High-Speed Videoendoscopy for Evaluating Patients With Vocal Fold Mass Lesions. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2016 Nov 01;25(4):576-589.