Overview
Vocal cord polyps are benign lesions that can cause dysphonia, hoarseness, and breathiness, often resulting from vocal abuse or misuse. Treatment approaches vary, with microsurgery being common, but non-surgical methods like speech therapy are emerging as potential alternatives 1.Diagnosis
Key Diagnostic Criteria: Presence of a polypoidal lesion on vocal cords observed via laryngoscopy.
Recommended Tests: Indirect or flexible laryngoscopy to visualize the vocal cords.
Grading: Severity often assessed subjectively based on dysphonia and vocal quality, though standardized grading systems are not detailed in the provided abstracts.Management
First-Line Treatments:
- Speech Therapy: Utilizing techniques such as sonorous lips and tongue trill to modify vocal behavior and potentially reduce polyp size 1.
Adjunctive Treatments:
- Laryngeal Microsurgery: Often recommended for persistent or severe cases, followed by postoperative speech therapy 1.Special Populations
Pregnancy: No specific guidance provided in the abstracts.
Pediatrics: Not addressed in the provided abstracts.
Elderly: No specific considerations mentioned in the abstracts.
Comorbidities: No specific recommendations for managing vocal cord polyps in patients with comorbidities are detailed in the abstracts.Key Recommendations
Consider speech therapy using techniques like sonorous lips and tongue trill as an initial treatment approach for vocal cord polyps to improve vocal symptoms and quality (Evidence: Moderate 1).
For persistent or severe cases, laryngeal microsurgery may be indicated, followed by postoperative speech therapy to enhance recovery (Evidence: Expert opinion 1).
Regular vocal self-evaluation and acoustic assessments can help monitor improvements in parameters such as noise values and jitter post-therapy (Evidence: Moderate 1).References
1 de Vasconcelos D, Gomes AO, de Araújo CM. Treatment for Vocal Polyps: Lips and Tongue Trill. Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation 2017. link