Summary
Objectives
To report the findings of unsuspected underlying concurrent abnormalities of the vocal
fold (VF) associated with polyps.
Study Design and Setting
Retrospective chart review at tertiary teaching institution.
Subjects and Methods
Operative and clinical notes of 81 adults submitted to suspension laryngoscopy for
vocal fold polyp (VFP) excision from 1998 to 2007, which had no previous report of
associated structural abnormalities.
Results
Associated lesions were described in 54 patients (67%) (35 contralateral, 16 ipsilateral,
and three bilateral): 18 reactive nodules, 21 sulcus vocalis, five cysts, two microwebs,
and eight capillary ectasias. A positive correlation was found between the presence
of polyps and associated structural abnormalities (r=0.0035; P<0.05).
Conclusions
The high incidence of concurrent previously unsuspected VF lesions suggests that either
these minor underlying anatomical deviations render the VF more vulnerable to vocal
abuse, or that phonotrauma may cause a number of VF lesions that can lead to dysphonia.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 12, 2009
Accepted:
February 5,
2009
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
