Benign laryngeal lesions: review of 329 cases in a single center

Aim: Benign laryngeal lesions are non-neoplastic growths of abnormal tissue on the laryngeal mucosa. They are significant because they can affect the laryngeal functions of voice production, respiration, and deglutition. This study aims to present the histopathological and clinical data of patients diagnosed with benign vocal cord lesions who were followed up and underwent surgical treatment in our tertiary referral center, evaluate the distribution percentages, and assess the pathological findings in relation to age and gender. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted by evaluating the medical records of patients who were diagnosed with benign vocal cord lesions between October 2014 and May 2019 at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University. Results: Of the 329 patients included in the study, 235 (71.4%) were male, and 94 (28.6%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 48.6 (±13.62) years. Histopathological evaluation revealed that the most common diagnosis was vocal cord polyp in 223 patients (67.8%). The second most common pathology was vocal cord nodule, observed in 23 patients (7.0%). This was followed by Reinke’s edema in 21 patients (6.4%) and intracordal cyst in 20 patients (6.1%). No significant relationship was found between gender and the distribution of vocal cord biopsy results. However, a significant relationship was found between age groups and pathology distribution (p < 0.001). In particular, Reinke’s edema and active chronic inflammation were more frequently observed in patients aged 49 and above. Conclusion: Among patients with benign vocal cord lesions, vocal cord polyps are the most frequently encountered pathology. With increasing age, the diagnostic diversity of benign lesions also increases. Reinke’s edema and inflammatory lesions are more frequently observed in older individuals.