Four-dimensional CT analysis of vocal cords mobility for highly focused single vocal cord irradiation.

Abstract

To quantify respiratory motion of the vocal cords during normal respiration using 4D-CT. The final goal is to develop a technique for single vocal cord irradiation (SVCI) in early glottic carcinoma. Sparing the non-involved cord and surrounding structures has the potential to preserve voice quality and allow re-irradiation of recurrent and second primary tumors. Four-dimensional CTs of 1mm slice thickness from 10 early glottic carcinoma patients were acquired. The lateral dimensions of the air gap separating the vocal cords were measured anteriorly, at mid-level and posteriorly at each phase of the 4D-CTs. The corresponding anterior-posterior gaps were similarly measured. Cranio-caudal vocal cords movements during breathing were derived from the shifts of the arythenoids. The population-averaged mean gap size+/-the corresponding standard deviation due to breathing (SD(B)) for the lateral gaps was 5.8+/-0.7mm anteriorly, 8.7+/-0.9mm at mid-level, and 11.0+/-1.3mm posteriorly. Anterior-posterior gap values were 21.7+/-0.7mm, while cranio-caudal shift SD(B) was 0.8mm. Vocal cords breathing motions were found to be small relative to their separation. Hence, breathing motion does not seem to be a limiting factor for SVCI.