2017 Volume 63 Issue 5 Pages 167-171
We have experienced 3 cases of vocal nodule in athletes. In Case 1, since the illness period was short, the vocal nodule disappeared with voice therapy within a short period of time. In Cases 2 & 3, the illness period was longer and the patients repeatedly experienced the exacerbation/remission of their vocal nodules. In Case 2, the vocal nodule did not improve with voice therapy, and we have been following the patient's progress with the administration of oral steroids and nebulized steroids when an exacerbation occurs. In Case 3, treatment with oral steroids is not possible as the patient is planning to participate in an official Kendo competition and the administration of oral steroids might lead to a doping violation. For this reason, the patient will continuously receive voice therapy without other treatments until the competition. It was considered that surgical treatment may be necessary for the treatment of vocal nodules in athletes in cases in which voice therapy is not successful.
