Comparison of the efficacy of vocal training and vocal microsurgery in patients with early vocal fold polyp / Comparação entre a eficácia do treinamento vocal e da fonocirurgia em pacientes com pólipo de prega vocal incipiente

Abstract Introduction: Vocal fold polyp is a benign proliferative disease in the superficial lamina propria of the vocal fold, and vocal microsurgery can improve the voice quality of patients with vocal fold polyp. In preliminary studies, we found that vocal training could improve the vocal quality of patients with early vocal fold polyp. Objective: This study aimed to compare the efficacies of vocal training and vocal microsurgery in patients with early vocal fold polyp. Methods: A total of 38 patients with early vocal fold polyp underwent 3 months of vocal training (VT group); another 31 patients with early vocal fold polyp underwent vocal microsurgery (VM group). All subjects were assessed using laryngostroboscopy, voice handicap index, and dysphonia severity index, and the efficacies of vocal training and vocal microsurgery were compared. Results: The cure rates of vocal training and vocal microsurgery were 31.6% (12/38) and 100% (31/31), respectively. The intragroup paired-sample t-test showed that the post treatment vocal handicap index, maximum phonation time, highest frequency (F0-high), lowest intensity (I-low), and dysphonia severity index in both the VT and VM groups were better than those before treatment, except for the jitter value. The intergroup independent-sample t-test revealed that the emotional values of vocal handicap index (t = − 2.22, p = 0.03), maximum phonation time (t = 2.54, p = 0.013), jitter (t = − 2.11, p = 0.03), and dysphonia severity index (t = 3.24, p = 0.002) in the VT group were better than those in the VM group. Conclusions: Both, vocal training and vocal microsurgery could improve the voice quality of patients with early vocal fold polyp, and these methods present different advantages.

Resumo Introdução: O pólipo de prega vocal é uma doença proliferativa benigna da camada superficial da lâmina própria da prega vocal e a microfonocirurgia pode melhorar a qualidade vocal desses pacientes. Em estudos preliminares, observamos que o treinamento vocal era capaz de melhorar a qualidade vocal de pacientes com pólipo incipiente de prega vocal. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo comparar a eficiência entre treinamento vocal e microfonocirurgia em pacientes com pólipo incipiente de prega vocal. Método: Um total de 38 pacientes com pólipo incipiente de prega vocal foram submetidos a três meses de treinamento vocal (grupo TV); outros 31 pacientes foram submetidos à microfonocirurgia (grupo MC). Todos os indivíduos foram avaliados por meio de laringoestroboscopia, índice de desvantagem vocal e índice de severidade da disfonia e a eficácia entre treinamento vocal e microfonocirurgia foi comparada. Resultados: As taxas de cura do treinamento vocal e da microfonocirurgia foram de 31,6% (12/38) e 100% (31/31), respectivamente. O teste t para amostras pareadas intragrupo mostrou que o índice de desvantagem vocal pós-tratamento, tempo máximo de fonação, frequência máxima, intensidade mínima e índice de severidade da disfonia nos grupos TV e MC foram melhores do que aqueles antes do tratamento, exceto pelo valor do jitter. O teste t para amostras independentes intergrupos revelou que o valor emocional do índice de desvantagem vocal (t = -2,22, p = 0,03), tempo máximo de fonação (t = 2,54, p = 0,013), jitter (t = -2,11, p = 0,03) e índice de severidade da disfonia (t = 3,24, p = 0,002) no grupo TV foram melhores do que os do grupo MC. Conclusões: Tanto o treinamento vocal quanto a microfonocirurgia podem melhorar a qualidade da voz de pacientes com pólipo incipiente de prega vocal e esses métodos apresentam diferentes vantagens.

The Study of Asymmetric Laryngeal Movements / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKMROUND AND ackground and Objectives: Voice is produced by the vibration of the vocal fold mucosa and laryngeal movements affect its vibration. It is speculative that asymmetric laryngeal movements might be the cause of inadequate vibration of the vocal fold mucosa. Using the pharyngogram, authors studied the relation between the asymmetric laryngeal movements and laryngeal nodule in functional voice disorders. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Thirty patients with laryngeal nodule and thirty normal subjects were evaluated. All subjects were evaluated by an acoustic analysis and maximum phonation time. Laryngeal movements were investigated with a laryngostroboscopy. And we investigated the asymmetric movement of larynx and perilarynx using /i/ phonation pharyngogram. RESULTS: Acoustic analysis and maximum phonation time of the patients with laryngeal nodule were different with that of normal subjects. Asymmetry of arytenoid movements and asymmetry of thyroid cartilage protrudings were more common in patients with laryngeal nodule during the examination of the laryngostroboscopy. Asymmetry of pyriform sinus was more common in the patients with laryngeal nodule in the examination of the /i/ phonation pharyngogram. CONCLUSION: Laryngeal asymmetry might affect more commonly the vibration of the vocal fold mucosa in the patients with laryngeal nodule.