[Evaluation of benign vocal cord lesions with laryngeal electromyography]

This study aims to identify patients with benign vocal cord lesions using laryngeal electromyography (EMG) and to investigate the presence of accompanying vocal cord paresis.

Twenty-eight patients (18 males and 10 females; mean age 38.6±10.2 years; range 22 to 59 years) who were diagnosed with benign vocal cord lesion using a rigid laryngostroboscopy underwent laryngeal EMG and the presence of neurogenic involvement was investigated.

Laryngostroboscopic examination revealed polyp in 85.7% (n=24), Reinke's edema in 10.7% (n=3), submucosal cyst in 10.7% (n=3), and contact granuloma in 3.6% (n=1). Of the patients, 14.2% (n=4) were suspected to have vocal cord paresis. Laryngeal EMG revealed neurogenic involvement in at least one of the larynx muscles in 57.2% (n=16) of the patients. Eight patients (28.6%) had unilateral neurogenic involvement, while three (10.7%) demonstrated isolated recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis two (7.2%) demonstrated isolated superior laryngeal nerve paresis, and three (10.7%) demonstrated combined recurrent and superior laryngeal nerve paresis. Six (21.4%) of eight patients with bilateral neurogenic involvement had paresis in three laryngeal nerves, whereas in two (7.2%) patients four laryngeal nerves were affected.

Our study shows that vocal cord paresis frequently accompanies benign vocal cord lesions. Laryngeal EMG is useful to identify clinically suspected or unsuspected paresis with physical examination precisely.