Office-based Blue Laser Therapy of Vocal Fold Polyps: A Cohort of 18 Patients

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of office-based blue laser therapy of vocal fold polyps on voice. Methods: The medical records and video recordings of patients who underwent office-based laser therapy in a tertiary referral center between February 2020 and May 2020, and May 2021 and October 2022 was conducted. Only patients with vocal fold polyps who had undergone office-based blue laser therapy were included. The voice was evaluated before and after surgery using the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), GRB perceptual evaluation, acoustic analysis, and maximum phonation time. Results: A total of 18 patients were included. The mean age of the study group was 52.5 ± 11.94 years. The male-to-female ratio was 2:1. Ten patients of the total group (53.6%) had hemorrhagic polyps and the most common site was the mid-third of the vocal fold. All patients who presented for follow-up (n = 15) had partial or complete regression of the lesion (4 and 11, respectively). There was a significant decrease in the mean score of VHI-10 (17.6 ± 9.97 vs. 4.27 ± 5.76, p < 0.001) and in the means of grade of dysphonia (2.0 ± 0.73 to 0.5 ± 0.63, p < 0.001), roughness (1.88 ± 0.81 to 0.44 ± 0.51, p < 0.001) and breathiness (0.81 ± 0.75 to 0.13 ± 0.34 p < 0.001). There was also a marked decrease in the perturbation parameters (jitter and shimmer) and a significant increase in the MPT from 10.66 ± 4.22 s to 14.26 ± 6.26 s (p = 0.028). Conclusion: Office-based blue laser therapy is an effective treatment modality in patients with vocal fold polyps. Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 133:2712–2718, 2023.