Prevalence of early laryngeal cancer and benign vocal cord pathology among patients undergoing videostroboscopy in Philippine General Hospital from 2008 to 2010

Abstract

Objective. To determine the types and prevalences of laryngeal pathology among patients undergoing videostroboscopy in the Philippine General Hospital. Methods. A systematic review of videostroboscopy records of patients from January 2008 to December 2010 was performed. Demographic data, risk factors, diagnosis and their association were determined. Results. The following vocal cord pathologies were recorded for the 507 subjects who underwent videostroboscopy during the assessed time period: vocal cord nodules (17.4%), laryngopharygeal reflux (16.6%), vocal cord paralysis (12.8%), cyst (10.5%), polyp (8%) and laryngeal cancer (6%). Vocal cord nodules were found to be more common among professional voice users (odds ratio = 2.8). Risk factors found to be associated with cancer development include age, gender (male, odds ratio 19.8) and smoking history (odds ratio = 12.7). Conclusion. The most common laryngeal pathology among patients undergoing videostroboscopy is vocal cord nodules. One out of 20 patients who underwent the procedure was given a diagnosis of laryngeal cancer.