Chemomyectomy of the thyroarytenoid muscle is a potential alternative appro
ach to the management of spasmodic dysphonia (laryngeal dystonia) that coul
d provide a prolonged response. To be useful, chemomyectomy should produce
weakening of vocal fold closure without disruption of the mucosal wave. Six
teen dogs were studied. in 8 animals, doxorubicin hydrochloride (3 mg) and
verapamil hydrochloride (0.5 mg) were injected unilaterally into the thyroa
rytenoid muscle 2 months before evaluation. The remaining animals served as
noninjected controls. Injection of doxorubicin and verapamil decreased the
average evoked tension of the vocal fold by 74.7%, compared to an average
side-to-side difference of 12.7% in the control group (p = .001). A mucosal
wave was recognized bilaterally with videostroboscopy in all dogs. Doxorub
icin did not significantly change the vocal fold appearance or mucosal wave
amplitude. These results support further laboratory study of chemomyectomy
as a potential alternative treatment For laryngeal dystonia.