Cricothyroid Muscle Botulinum Toxin Chemodenervation to Treat Recalcitrant High-Pitched Functional Dysphonia in an Adult Male

Abstract

Introduction: Functional dysphonia occurs in the absence of structural or neurologic laryngeal abnormalities with various manifestations including aphonia and inappropriate vocal pitch. Voice therapy is the first-line treatment, and literature on treatment options for functional dysphonia unresponsive to voice therapy is limited.

Methods: Retrospective medical records review and report of a case.

Results: We report a unique case of an adult male with recalcitrant high-pitched functional dysphonia of adult-onset that was successfully treated with a single cricothyroid muscle botulinum toxin (Botox) chemodenervation injection.

Conclusion: Cricothyroid muscle botulinum toxin chemodenervation can be an effective treatment for recalcitrant functional dysphonia.

Keywords: Botulinum toxin injection; Cricothyroid muscle; Dysphonia; High-pitched functional dysphonia; Puberphonia.