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A retrospective study of contact granuloma
1Department of Logopedics and Phoniatrics, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.
Objectives:
This study evaluates the clinical features of contact granuloma and compares the results of voice therapy in operated versus unoperated cases.
Study Design:
Retrospective review of 123 patients with contact granuloma. Thirty-six patients had undergone one or more surgeries before phoniatric consultation. After their final operation, 33 patients had recurrence. The three patients who were cured by operation were not studied further. The course of disease in the 33 patients with recurrence was compared with that of 87 patients who did not have surgery.
Methods:
The hospital records were reviewed concerning age, sex, symptoms, side of granuloma, and outcome of treatment.
Results:
The predominant symptoms were vocal fatigue, vocal discomfort, the need for excessive throat clearing, and hoarseness. The recurrence rate after operation was 92%. Twelve months after voice therapy, 35% of the operated group and 51% of the unoperated group were cured. The patients who had surgery had almost twice as many sessions of voice therapy as the unoperated group, and their mean recovery time was 17 months, compared with 8 months for the unoperated group.
Conclusions:
The recurrence rate after surgery was high. Surgery may prolong the recovery time. Subjective symptoms diminished during voice therapy, but we cannot confirm that it was beneficial for the healing process.