DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i04.098

Pages: 1863-1870

Hoarseness of voice refers to a laryngeal dysfunction caused by abnormal vocal cord vibrations. Hoarseness of voice is only a symptom and not a disease. Aetiology of hoarseness is very diverse and varies greatly. So every case of hoarseness must be carefully investigated to determine the underlying pathology. The present study was conducted for duration of thirty years in three Medical Colleges of West Bengal, India, to find the clinicopathological spectrum of hoarseness of voice. Out of the 765 patients presenting with hoarseness, 510 (66.7%) were males and 255 (33.3%) were females with an M: F ratio of 2:1. The highest incidence of (28.9%) was noticed in the age group of 21 to 30 years, followed by (24.4%) in the age group of 31 to 40 years and (17.8%) in the age group of 41 to 50 years. In the present study, Reinke’s oedema was found to be the commonest pathology (26.7%), followed by vocal cord polyp (16.9%), vocal nodules (14.6%), chronic laryngitis (13.7%), carcinoma of the larynx (11.9%), vocal cord palsy (8.9%), and laryngeal tuberculosis (4.1%), acquired laryngeal web (1.8%), and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (1.4 %). Out of the 765 cases, 674 (88.1%) were benign and 91 (11.9%) were malignant. Reinke’s oedema, vocal cord polyp and carcinoma of the larynx were more common in men whereas vocal nodules were more common in women. Vocal abuse was an important predisposing factor for vocal nodules and Reinke’s oedema. Smoking was found to be an important aetiological factor for Reinke’s oedema, chronic laryngitis and carcinoma of the larynx. Incidence of laryngeal tuberculosis in India had decreased in the last ten years due to early detection and treatment of tuberculosis cases as a part of various National Programs like RNTCP. Incidence of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis had also decreased in the recent past due to improvement of hygiene and medical care. Microlaryngeal surgery and advancement of anaesthetic techniques along with invention of better