Polyps are common injuries of the vocal folds. Voice trauma is the main factor related with the onset of this injury. The association between vocal fold polyps and cover minimum structural alterations (sulcus, epidermoid cyst, mucosal bridge, laryngeal web and varicosity) has been little studied in literature; therefore, the purpose of the present study was to quantify and to analyze this association. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical retrospective. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study with 68 patients, mean age 39.5 years, surgically submitted to exeresis of vocal fold polyps in the period between January 1999 and May 2003. We analyzed the presence of vocal fold polyps and cover minimum structural alterations. RESULTS: The presence of cover minimum structural alterations associated with the polyp occurred in 16 (23.5%) patients. In 8 (50%) patients, the finding was sulcus vocalis. In 4 (25%) patients, the finding was epidermoid cyst, in 2 (12.5%) patients, mucosal bridge, in 1 (6.25%), varicosity and in 1 (6.25%) patient, laryngeal web. Cover minimum structural alterations were contralateral to the vocal fold polyp in 11 patients. Of the sulcus, 6 (75%) were contralateral and among the cysts, 3 (75%) were contralateral to the polyp. CONCLUSION: The association between vocal fold polyps and cover minimum structural alterations is relatively frequent and it was 23.5% in our study. Careful intraoperative exploration of vocal folds in search for these alterations is essential.
vocal fold polyp; vocal fold cover minor structural alteration; phonotrauma