Surgical removal followed by radiotherapy for refractory vocal process granuloma

Vocal process granuloma (VPG) is a challenging disease because of its multifactorial etiology, irrespective of treatments. Conservative treatments had shown limited effects, while surgical attempts of removing lesions were only indicated in certain conditions for high recurrent rates. However, a group of patients remained with refractory disease. The objective of this study was to describe the use of surgical removal followed by radiation therapy in the management of patients with refractory VPG.

Retrospective reviews were conducted in patients with refractory VPG to evaluate the effects of surgical removal followed by radiation therapy and compared with that of surgical removal alone.

Twenty-one patients with refractory disease were enrolled in our study. Fifteen patients accepted surgical removal followed by radiation therapy the day after operation in a total dose of 15 Gy. Six patients who refused radiation therapy accepted surgical removal alone. All patients were followed up for 3-6 years and laryngoscope results were studied in all patients.

All of the 15 patients treated with surgical removal followed by radiation therapy in low dose got the disease eliminated completely with mild complications. Recurrences were observed during the 2 weeks to 3 months after operation in five of the six patients who accepted surgical removal alone, whereas no recurrence was observed in the other one in whom the granuloma was believed to be caused by intubation injury.

This initial study showed that surgical removal followed by radiation therapy in low dose was a safe and an effective approach to manage VPG with a potential for clinical application, but further studies in a larger cohort for a longer term were needed.