A CLINICO - HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF VOCAL FOLD LESIONS

Background: This descriptive study aimed to understand the clinical and histopathological characteristics of various vocal fold lesions, which are vital vibratory structures in the larynx. The study involved 60 consecutive patients aged 11-80 yea Material and Methods: rs, who underwent a detailed evaluation including history and physical examination. Only those who underwent surgery for vocal cord lesions were included in the study. The results showed that vocal fold lesions were more prevalent in males than females, with a Results: male-to-female ratio of 2.7:1. Out of 60 cases, 44 (73.3%) were males and 16 (26.6%) were females. The highest frequency of vocal fold lesions was noted in the age range 51-60 years. Benign vocal fold lesions comprised 42 cases (70%), while premalignant and malignant lesions comprised 2 cases (3.3%) and 16 cases (26.6%) respectively. The most frequently observed benign vocal fold lesion was vocal fold nodules, comprising 18 cases (30%). Premalignant lesions included vocal fold dysplasia and vocal fold keratosis, each having a latency of less than 10 years. In malignant lesions originating from vocal folds, 10 cases (16.6%) comprised of well differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, the highest frequency when compared to moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. In conclusion, vocal fold lesions can cause vocal hoarseness and dyspnea, Conclusion: impacting a patient's social well-being and quality of life. Proper therapeutic measures are crucial for improved functional outcomes, and diagnostic accuracy improves with a 70-degree video laryngoscope. It is extremely important to diagnose laryngeal malignancy at an early stage, so that voice preservation surgery or radiotherapy can be started early so that patient can lead a normal life with minimal morbidity