Direct laryngoscopic observations in progressive hoarseness of voice

Comparative Study of Videolaryngostroboscopic Findings and Voice Handicap Index Before and After Treatment in Patients Presenting with Hoarseness Due to Non Malignant Lesions

Voice personifies an individual. Change in voice can be the only presentation for a benign malady like vocal nodule or acute laryngitis but can also indicate life threatening malignancy. Hence every voice change must be evaluated. The aim of this pioneering study was to assess patients with voice change due to non-malignant conditions, using Videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS) and Voice Handicap Index (VHI) pre and post1 month therapy. Diagnosis determined conservative therapy or Co2 laser phonosurgery according to accepted medical protocol. On VLS, glottic closure pattern and wave form was noted both before and after treatment. Patient completed VHI form before and after treatment. There is no previous study comparing pre and post treatment VHI and VLS in a extensive etiology of conservatively managed patients. In our study, 100 patients were enrolled in the age group between 10 years to the eighties, with majority in their thirties. The male to female ratio was 1.9:1. The majority of patients belonged to level IV occupation. A wide gamut of diagnosis was noted, majority being vocal nodules, followed by polyps, cysts, vocal cord palsy etc. A statistically significant improvement was seen pre and post treatment VLS in glottic closure pattern, waves presence along with improvement in VHI. Thus, Voice Handicap Index and Videostroboscopy can be used to prognosticate the vocal cord lesions and measure the effectiveness of treatment in both surgically and conservatively managed patients.