ENT: Hoarseness: Free MSRA Podcast

🎙️ FREE MSRA PODCAST – Hoarseness (Dysphonia)🗣️ From croaky voice to cancer red flag – this episode breaks down hoarseness the smart way. Whether it’s a post-viral raspy throat or something much more serious, we help you diagnose, manage, and remember it all.🔍 Key Learning Points📌 Definition• Hoarseness = voice change: raspy, breathy, or weak• Medical term: Dysphonia• Not a diagnosis – it’s a symptom of underlying laryngeal/vocal cord pathology📌 Emergency Red Flags 🚨• Sudden hoarseness with stridor, breathing difficulty → impending airway obstruction• Causes: – Epiglottitis – Croup – Laryngeal trauma – Anaphylaxis – Laryngeal abscess – Vocal cord immobility⚠️ Requires urgent assessment and potential anaesthetic/surgical intervention📌 Causes• Viral laryngitis• Vocal cord nodules/polyps• Vocal cord paralysis• GORD/GERD reflux• Smoking• Vocal overuse (singers, teachers)• Thyroid disease• Laryngeal/lung cancer• Neurological causes (e.g. Parkinson's)👶 In kids: congenital laryngeal defects, papillomas, nodules❗ Cancer rare in children📌 Risk Factors• Professions: teachers, singers, call centres• Smoking 🚬 & alcohol 🍷• Older age• Reflux• Neurological or thyroid disorders• Poor vocal hygiene• Prolonged intubation💡 Environmental: dry air, poor acoustics📌 Pathophysiology• Vocal cords vibrate to create sound• Hoarseness = disrupted vibration – Swelling (e.g. laryngitis) – Lesions (e.g. polyps) – Nerve palsy (e.g. recurrent laryngeal nerve)• Sound resonance: shaped by mouth, nose, tongue• Controlled by vagus nerve (esp. recurrent laryngeal)📌 Differential Diagnosis• Acute/chronic laryngitis• Nodules/polyps• Paralysis• Tumours (larynx/lung)• Neurological: Parkinson’s• Functional voice disorders• GORD📌 Epidemiology🇬🇧 Common in UK, no exact data🇺🇸 US prevalence ~1% overall👦 In kids aged 6–10: 12% (boys > girls)📌 Symptoms• Voice change• Vocal fatigue• Throat discomfort• Reduced pitch range• Need to clear throat• Cough• Difficulty projecting voice📌 Diagnosis & Red Flags• Detailed history + ENT exam• Laryngoscopy: gold standard• Voice quality tools: GRBAS scale• Urgent 2WW referral if: – >45 years – Persistent unexplained hoarseness (cancer rule-out)• Other tests: thyroid function, imaging, stroboscopy, voice analysis📌 Management🔹 Non-surgical• Voice rest, hydration, smoking/alcohol reduction• Treat reflux (diet, antacids, alginates)• Speech & Language Therapy• Relaxation techniques• Specialist voice clinics for functional dysphonia🔹 Surgical• Nodules/polyps: excision if persistent• Vocal cord palsy: injections (e.g. Teflon), implants• Papillomas: surgery + antivirals• Reinke’s oedema: smoking cessation ± surgery• Spasmodic dysphonia: Botox injections💡 Most effective when combined with therapy📌 Prognosis• Good if acute cause (e.g. laryngitis)• Depends on underlying issue• Functional voice disorders often resolve with therapy• Tumours/paralysis → prognosis varies📌 Complications• Communication breakdown• Career impact (esp. voice-reliant jobs)• Social withdrawal• Vocal cord damage• Psychological distress✅ Early diagnosis & treatment = better outcome🎯 MSRA Learning Resources for Hoarseness📝 Revision Notes:https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/hoarseness-revision-notes/🧠 Flashcards:https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/hoarseness-flashcards/💬 Accordion Q&A Notes:https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/hoarseness-accordion-qa-notes/🚀 Rapid Quiz:https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/hoarseness-rapid-quiz/🎯 ENT Quiz:https://www.passthemsra.com/quizzes/hoarseness/📚 ENT Course:https://www.passthemsra.com/courses/ent-for-the-msra/#MSRA #MSRARevisionNotes #MSRAFlashcards #MSRAQandANotes #MSRAQuiz #MSRAAccordions #ENT #Hoarseness #Dysphonia #MedicalRevision #PassTheMSRA #MSRA2025