Preliminary Diagnosis: Subglottic stenosis
I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis
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Airway fluoroscopy.
II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosis of subglottic stenosis.
Advantages
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Fast, inexpensive imaging modality.
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Exposes the patient to minimal ionizing radiation.
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Highly sensitive for detecting subglottic stenosis.
Disadvantages
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Limited in evaluating for any underlying laryngeal lesion.
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Less specific in detecting subglottic stenosis than other imaging modalities
III. What are the contraindications for the first-line imaging technique?
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No specific contraindications exist.
IV. What alternative imaging techniques are available?
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CT with contrast
V. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative techniques for diagnosis of subglottic stenosis.
CT with contrast
Advantages
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Highly sensitive and specific for evaluating for subglottic stenosis.
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Able to detail and characterize any underlying laryngeal lesion with exquisite detail and accuracy.
Disadvantages
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Exposes patients to ionizing radiation.
VI. What are the contraindications for the alternative imaging techniques?
CT with contrast
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CT imaging may be contraindicated in pregnant patients.
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Relative contraindication to contrast use in patients with renal failure
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Relative contraindication to contrast use in patients with contrast allergy
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