Abstract
Vocal process granulomas are mainly associated with vocal abuse, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or endotracheal intubation. In the present study, we evaluate the prognostic factors and the usefulness of a grading system in 64 patients with vocal process granulomas. We classified the granuloma which limited the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage as grade I, and which originated from the vocal process but extended beyond the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage as grade II, according to the grading system proposed by Wang CP, et al. First, we treated this disease with conservative treatments including a proton pump inhibitor, steroid inhalation, or voice therapy. Surgical treatment was reserved for failures of conservative treatments or when the diagnosis was in doubt. The overall post-surgical recurrence rate was 65.7%, and it was significantly higher in male than female patients, and in younger than older patients. The overall remission rate was 79.7%. A multivariate analysis revealed that Grade II was a significantly poor prognostic factor and the patients with BMI ≥23 or Age <60 had a tendency to have a poor remission rate. The grading system is useful for anticipating the prognosis in cases of vocal process granuloma.
