Direct laryngoscopy: a retrospective analysis

A retrospective analysis of direct laryngoscopies performed at our institution in 1978 was undertaken utilizing computer technology. The population which consisted of 54% males and 46% females had an average age of 50.4 years. The most common symptom was hoarseness (83.6%). The most frequent benign and malignant diagnoses were vocal cord polyp and squamous cell carcinoma, respectively. Males predominated in all disease entities except vocal cord polyps. Benign disease entities presented most frequently with one or two symptoms, while malignant pathology presented with a varied array and number of symptoms. The indications: "tumor" seen on indirect laryngoscopy, sore throat, dysphagia, otalgia, upper respiratory tract obstruction, hemoptysis, cough and leukoplakia were most frequently associated with malignancy. Voice abuse occupations were most commonly associated with vocal cord polyps and tobacco and alcohol use was most frequently associated with laryngeal cancer. Eighty-five percent of direct laryngoscopies were done under general anesthesia with two-thirds utilizing direct suspension microlaryngoscopy.