Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 6, Issue 5 225-230, Copyright © 1987 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Sonographic anatomy of the larynx, with particular reference to the vocal cords
B. N. Raghavendra, S. C. Horii, D. L. Reede, W. M. Rumancik, M. Persky and T. Bergeron
Sonographic images of the vocal cords were obtained in 41 healthy human
subjects using a phased array realtime ultrasound scanner. The thyroid
cartilage provides the acoustic window for sonographic visualization of the
vocal cords. The false vocal cords appear as hyperechoic structures, while
the true vocal cords are seen as hypoechoic structures. The symmetry of
movement of the vocal cords during respiration becomes apparent on
examination in real time. Sonography may prove to be a potentially useful
technique for the examination of the vocal cords.
