Benign lesions of larynx - A clinical study

Objective: A clinical study was undertaken to analyze the age, sex distribution and symptomatology, sites of involvement and the prognosis of the common types of benign lesions of larynx. Study Design: A five year retrospective study from 1997 to 2002. Setting: KMC Hospital Attavar- A tertiary referral hospital. Patients: A total of 42 patients with benign laryngeal lesions were included based on symptomatology such as hoarseness of voice, foreign body sensation, throat pain, neck mass and cough and with positive clinical findings on indirect laryngoscopy and neck examination. The patients ranged from 7-80 years. All non-operative cases and malignant cases were excluded. Diagnostic hematological and radiological investigations and therapeutic microlaryngoscopic procedures were employed. Results: A male preponderance with M:F ratio of 3:1 was observed. Majority of the patients were in the 30-40 age group. Vocal polyps were the commonest type of lesion. In our study, hoarseness of voice, cough, foreign body sensation and throat pain proved to be the commonest symptoms. Conclusions: Micro laryngeal surgery and voice rest offer a cost effective, useful and safe method for management of benign laryngeal lesions.