Vocal Cord Cysts: Experience in 44 patients from the Voice Center of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Abstract

Introduction: Vocal cord cysts are a relatively frequent cause of dysphonia. Their origin is still controversial, and their diagnosis and management continue to be a clinical challenge. Aim: To describe and analyze the clinical characteristics of vocal cord cysts in our series of patients. Material and method: Descriptive retrospective study of patients with diagnosis of vocal cord cyst attended in our center between June 2012 and December 2015. Results: 44 patients had the diagnosis of vocal cord cyst, which represents 4.32% of the patients that attended our Voice Center during that period. Most of the patients were adults, and among them 68.29% corresponded to women. 34.1% of the patients were submitted to surgical treatment with microphonosurgery technique. 75% of the surgical patients presented an improvement in the pattern of the videolaryngostroboscopic mu- cosal wave. All the patients in which pre and postsurgical subjective voice assessment polls were available, showed a significant voice improvement. Conclusion: Vocal cord cysts are lesions that affect both children and adults. The videolaryngostroboscopy evaluation is key in the diagnosis of these lesions, and the surgical treatment with microphonosurgery is effective in terms of anatomical and functio- nal vocal results.