A comparison of voice analysis results according to localization of vocal polyps in the vocal folds

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the differences in voice acoustic analysis according to the localization of polyps in the vocalfold.Patients and Methods: Between January 2017 and June 2018, a total of 52 patients (38 males, 14 females; mean age 40.5 years;range, 23 to 61 years) with a vocal polyp were retrospectively analyzed. The length of the vocal fold was measured and the locationof lesions were classified as anterior, anterior-middle, and middle. Fundamental frequency (F0mean, F0min, F0max), jitter, shimmer,noise harmonic ratio (NHR), and maximum phonation time (MPT) were also recorded.Results: Vocal polyps were localized in the anterior in 12, in the anterior-middle in 16, and in the middle in 24 patients. In theintra-group analyses, MPT, F0min, and NHR were found to be statistically significant. According to the overall average, MPT in theanterior group, shimmer and NHR in the anterior-middle group, and F0mean and F0min values in the middle group were found to besignificant.Conclusion: In vocal polyps, MPT was shorter in anterior lesions, the F0 mean value was high in middle lesions, and voice qualitywas more affected in the anterior-middle lesions, as the vocal fold vibration stability was disrupted and the noise parameter was high.