Comparison of therapeutic effects of steroid injection by benign vocal fold lesion type

Benign vocal fold lesions (BVFLs) can cause voice changes, including reduced loudness and pitch range. In recent times, with progression in endoscopic technology, office-based vocal fold steroid injection (VFSI) has been used as an alternative therapy for BVFLs.

In this study, we analyzed the efficacy and safety of VFSI to investigate the mechanism underlying its therapeutic effects and determine the conditions in which VFSI will be most effective.

In this retrospective cohort study, we included 40 condition-matched patients (8 patients per lesion) with chorditis, vocal nodules, vocal polyps, Reinke's edema (RE), or vocal scars who received similar regimens of steroid injection using a commercial preparation of triamcinolone acetonide. Their phonological outcomes were evaluated 2 or 3 months after the injection.

Significant improvements were observed in Voice Handicap Index scores, results of laboratory voice evaluation, and voice quality measured using the Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain scale in all participants. In subgroup analysis, VFSI was highly effective against chorditis and vocal nodules, but less effective against RE and vocal scars.

Single-dose VFSI is valuable as an alternative to voice rehabilitation and laryngo-microsurgery, but higher concentrations or repeated injections are required for intractable lesions.