DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i07.016

Pages: 2518-2521

Hoarseness of voice due to vocal lesions has deep impact on the emotional and work-related aspects of survival. Various studies opined that true benign neoplastic lesions are uncommon and occur in a ratio of 1:6 to the nonneoplastic lesions. To this rationale we studied the prevalence of different benign lesions in vocal cords causing hoarseness in patients attending ENT OPD clinic in a tertiary care hospital. The method in this study was conducted at Meenakshi Medical College And Research Institute, during the period 2012 – 2014. Fifty patients of age between 5 years to 50 years attending the outpatient department of ENT were enrolled. Patients having hoarseness of voice and or dysphagia were included. All the patients with hoarseness of voice were evaluated for benign lesions by using Flexible video laryngoscopy and data was studied. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi – square test and student’s “t” test. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In results the highest incidence of hoarseness was observed between the groups of 41 – 50 years. There were 17 females and 33 males. 36/50 patients had a history of vocal stress, among them 28 patients had benign lesions on the vocal cord. 50/50 patients were having hoarseness of voice, dysphagia was found in 26 patients and 34 patients were with benign lesions (structural abnormality). The most prevalent type of lesion found is vocal nodule (24%). The conclusion in the present study of prevalence of benign lesions on the vocal cord with hoarseness, benign lesions constituted up to 68%. Vocal stress is the most common underlying etiologic factor. Teaching profession appeared to be the common occupational group having the benign lesions of the vocal cord presenting as hoarseness.