Symptoms and Diagnosis of Vocal Cord Lesions

The vocal cords comprise two thin flexible bands of muscle tissue that are stretched across the inside of the voice box.Lesions on these vocal cords are a common cause of voice disorders. Benign lesions of the vocal cords are non-cancerous, abnormal growths that fall into three main categories: nodules, polyps and cysts.

These lesions often occur as a result of the voice being misused or overused, by screaming, shouting or trying to talk during an attack of laryngitis. Many of them occur in people who rely on their voice such as professional singers, cheerleaders or salespeople.

Symptoms

The earliest symptoms of a lesion on the vocal cord often include a change in the voice quality and persistent hoarseness. Depending on the size of the lesion and where it is located, signs and symptoms can be wide-ranging, such as the following:

Unpredictable voice failure
A delay before the voice emerges
A downward change in the pitch of the voice
A low raspy or rough voice
Vocal fatigue, where the voice tires quickly with use
Frequent clearing of the throat
The need for increased effort while speaking
A loss of the ability to reach a high note, especially when singing softly

Diagnosis

When a person develops hoarseness or other symptoms of a voice cord lesion, he may be referred to an otolaryngologist, that is, a specialist in disorders of the ear, nose and throat.

Diagnosis of the problem requires first a full history of the voice problem and the way the voice is used, as well as an evaluation of the way the patient speaks. The following are important factors that the doctor will take into consideration:

Time of onset of symptoms such as abnormal voice
Other symptoms or signs that accompany the onset of hoarseness, such as a respiratory tract infection
The presence or absence of vocal fatigue
Whether there is waxing or waning of the symptoms with the time of day
Pain during speaking or singing
Limitations of the singing range
The presence of voice breaks especially while singing a particular note
The previous medical history and the use of any medications

In addition, a thorough examination will be made of the vocal cords, usually with the help of a laryngoscope and a stroboscopic light source. This involves an endoscope being passed though the patient’s mouth and into the throat so that the voice box can be visualized. The light source enables the vibration of the vocal cords to be assessed.

The appearance and location of the vocal cord lesions will be carefully noted, and if required, a biopsy may be taken from the lesion.

Other investigations may be ordered to rule out the presence of exacerbating factors such as hypothyroidism or allergies.

Sometimes, the patient is advised to completely rest the voice, which means no singing, talking or even whispering before undergoing a second examination, to see if this has led to any improvement in the lesion. The otolaryngologist will also ensure that other problems which may be affecting the voice, such as acid reflux, medication use, allergies or hormonal balances, are also addressed.

References

http://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/vocal-fold-lesions-nodules-cysts-and-polyps
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/head-neck/diseases-conditions/hic-vocal-cord-lesions
http://www.entnet.org/content/nodules-polyps-and-cysts