SPEECH-RELATED VISUALIZATION OF LARYNGEAL MUSCLES WITH FLUORINE-18-FDG

This study describes the physiological uptake of F-18-fluoro-2-deoxygl ucose (FDG) by the laryngeal muscles secondary to activation of the pa tient's vocal folds and related laryngeal muscles during speech. Metho ds: Twenty-four patients undergoing routine PET scans were randomized into two groups to ascertain the relationship between FDG uptake in th e laryngeal region and speech. One group was assigned to talk and the other group remained silent during the injection and uptake period of FDG. Results: FDG uptake in the laryngeal muscles in the scans was cor related with speech. Patients who spoke continually during the uptake period had high-grade FDG uptake, those who spoke intermittently had l ow-grade uptake and those who remained silent had no detectable increa se in FDG uptake in the region of the larynx. Conclusion: The relation ship between the degree of laryngeal muscle uptake and speech provides useful information to allow differentiation of physiological from pat hological uptake in the neck.