The Study of Bilateral Venign Vocal Fold Lesions

Ahn, Cheol Min; Chung, Duk Hee; Han, Kyu Chul; park, Sang Jun; Lee, Geon Young

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Benign vocal fold lesions are a common cause of voice dysfunction. Successful treatment of these diseases is primarily accomplished through voice therapy and surgical treatment. But many clinicians are faced with cases where problems persist in spite of treatment. The one cause of treatment failure in benign vocal fold lesions may be the bilateral lesions each vocal fold has different lesion. Authors studied to evaluate the possibility of persisted voice dysfunction in bilateral benign vocal fold lesions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Strobovideolaryngoscopy findings of 128 patients with bilateral benign vocal fold lesions were reviewed. We evaluate to see if lesions in each vocal fold of one patient were the same or not. The treatment methods for each lesion were classified. We compare the treatment methods for each lesion with those already performed on the patients.
RESULTS
In cases with nodule in one vocal fold, we observed 8 edema, 2 epidermoid cyst in the opposite vocal fold. In cases with reinke's edema on both vocal fold, we observed combined lesion, such as 1 epidermoid cyst, 1 hyperkeratosis. In cases with sulcus vocalis on both vocal fold, we observed combined lesion, such as 3 nodules, 4 polyps, 6 edema. We observed 2 cases with epidermoid cyst in one side and edema in opposite vocal fold, 5 cases with bilateral vocal nodule and combined varices in one side, 2 cases with bilateral laryngeal edema and combined hyperkeratosis in one side.
CONCLUSION
Bilateral benign vocal fold lesions sometimes have more than 2 laryngeal diseases for which the treatment modality is different. Clinician should know the lesion precisely in each vocal fold, and treatment plan should be also made in according to the lesion in each vocal fold.