Stroboscopic Observation of Vocal Fold Vibration with the Videoendoscope

Asahi Optical Co, Ltd (Tokyo, Japan), has manufactured a trial thin videoendoscope with an instantaneous RGB (red-green-blue) system. We have developed a new laryngostroboscopic system using this videoendoscope. In this article, we report the performance of the clinical trial of this new and useful videoendoscopic system for stroboscopy, and compare it to conventional stroboscopy using a flexible fiberscope or rigid endoscope. This new thin videoendoscope has the following characteristics. A small charge-coupled device (CCD) chip is built into the tip of this endoscope, and an instantaneous RGB system is used. The outer diameters of its tip (4.1 mm) and the insertion tube (3.7 mm) of the videoendoscope are relatively small. The videoendoscope system is compact. Stroboscopic observation was conducted with this videoendoscope in conjunction with a laryngostroboscope. Compared to stroboscopy with a conventional flexible fiberscope or rigid endoscope, this stroboscopic system has several clear advantages. It presents clear dynamic color images on a color video monitor and provides excellent resolution and recording, thus yielding high diagnostic accuracy. The diameter of the videoendoscope is relatively small and results in less discomfort for patients, even for children. The videoendoscope allowed the doctors to perform pernasal endoscopy. Therefore, there is less limitation in the range of subjects for examination. Patients are able to phonate holding a normal head position, and are thereby able to produce varying vocal sounds in the habitual or normal manner during examination. The new stroboscopy system using a videoendoscope is a very useful examination tool that has the advantages of both a conventional flexible fiberscope and a rigid endoscope.