# Introduction t is true that if eyes are mirrors of the soul, then surely voice is the loudspeaker. Human voice is extraordinary, complex and is integral to our personality. A clear, pleasing confident voice conveys the positive impression of an adequate personality. 1 In 1854 Manual Garcia a Spanish singing teacher living in London was recognised as "Father of Laryngology" and first to report the visualisation of the larynx with mirrors and reflected sunlight. 2 Before surgical microscope, the larynx was visualized using the laryngeal mirror which did not allow a complete examination. Hence with the advent of micro-laryngoscopy (ML-Scopy) the larynx is seen with the help of a direct laryngoscope and the view is magnified by using an operating microscope for diagnosis and surgery. Kleinsasser introduced the use of the new design of laryngoscope in conjunction with the operating microscope in the early 1960s. He was a pioneer in the development of the technique for the treatment and examination of different laryngeal lesions. 3 The development of micro-laryngoscopy has made precise microlaryngeal surgery possible and it has based on 3 basic principles are as follows 4 1) Maximal preservation of healthy mucosa particularly on the free edge of the vocal folds 2) Minimal disruption of the superficial lamina propria layer and avoidance of any damage to the underlying vocal ligament 3) Preservation of the mucosal trigone at the anterior laryngeal commissure to avoid the formation of synechiae. II. # Methodology A retrospective study of 30 patients with benign vocal cord lesions (BVCL) who have attended T.N.M.C. and B. Y. L. Nair Ch. tertiary care hospital from September 2014 to September 2016. Patients were selected by simple random sampling who satisfied the inclusion criteria. Following conventional MLScopy excision, patients were assessed with the speech parameter in the OPD after 7, 30 & 90 days. The data entered with appropriate statistical software. Informed and willing consent taken for ML-Scopy. Microsoft office 2007 was used to make tables and graphs. Descriptive statistics like mean, percentages were used to interpret the data and conclude the results. # a) Inclusion Criteria ? Patients with age above 18 years with benign vocal cord lesions like polyp, nodule, cyst, vocal cord papilloma, Reinke's oedema not responding to medical and speech therapy for 2 weeks. # b) Exclusion Criteria ? Malignant lesions and patients not fit for general anaesthesia. # III. Aims and Objectives IV. # Speech Assessment Parameters a) Maximum Phonation Time: 5 The time an individual can sustain a sung tone, a vowel sound (ah) produced on one deep breath, after having filled the lungs maximally. Selection Rationale: 1) The MPT is the best of 3 attempts at sustaining a vowel ("ah") without straining. 2) Quick and easy to administer 3) In practice since 40 years, non-invasive and requires no special equipment, other than a stopwatch. Normally, adult males and females can sustain vowel ("ah") sounds for between 25-35 seconds and 15-25 seconds respectively. In general the MPT of less than 10 seconds is abnormal and interferes with daily life significantly. In cases of vocal dysfunction, the MPT is considerably reduced. b) GRBAS Scale 6,7,8 Hirano proposed the GRBAS scale a widely used by speech pathologists and laryngologists for the evaluation of voice quality. And also GRBAS for evaluating the hoarse voice: proposed by Japan Society of Logopedics and Phoniatrics Evaluation: grading is a subjective perceptual evaluation 0: Non hoarse or normal 1: Slight 2: Moderate 3: Extreme The five elements: Grade (G): a description of the degree of hoarseness Roughness (R): the perceptual irregularity of vocal fold vibrations, usually the result of a change in fundamental frequency or amplitude of vibration. Breathiness (B): the assessment of air leakage through the glottis. Aesthenic (A): voice denotes weakness and lack of power. Strain (S): reflects a perception of vocal hyperfunction. # c) Vocal/Voice Handicap Index (VHI) (Developed by Jacobson et al 1997) 9,10 Handicap is defined as, "a social, economic, or environmental disadvantage resulting from an impairment or disability." The VHI is a quality-of-life subjective questionnaire for self-evaluating voice disorders, which has excellent reliability and reproducibility. The VHI can also be useful as a component of measuring functional outcomes in behavioural, medical, and surgical treatments of voice disorder. The VHI is a 30 questionnaire (120-points total) to quantify the 10-item of each subscale of functional, emotional and physical impacts of a voice disorder problem. Vocal pathologies can have different levels of handicap. Subjects were asked to read each item and circle one of five responses comprising an equalappearing 5-point scale. The scale had the words anchoring 0: never, 1: almost never, 2: sometimes, 3: almost always, 4: always. # VHI is classified as Mild: values of 0-30: mildly impaired voice Moderate: values of 31-60: moderately impaired voice Severe: values of 61-120: self-perception of voice as severe # d) Operative procedure The Kleinsasser laryngoscope along with microscope of 400mm focal length was fixed with the help of Levy type of suspension apparatus on the chest. During this, pulse and ECG of the patient carefully recorded. We have studied various cases of benign vocal cord lesions with ML-Scopy surgery without much damage to normal mucosa. Preoperative speech therapy is advised to all patients to prepare for post-operative rehabilitation programme. 11 # Post operatively mainly treated with: -Strict voice rest corticosteroids (Oral, nebulisation) -antihistaminics steam inhalation post-op 1 week later: speech therapy. ceasation of addiction. After surgery follow up on 7 days, 1 month and 3 months in outpatient department and clinically assessed by 1) Hopkins rigid 70 degree scope 2) Speech parameter by MPT, GRBAS, VHI Scale. # V. Benign Vocal Cord Lesions (BVCL) 1) Vocal cord nodules: result from the voice misuse or abuse and in non-professional singers with poor singing technique. 12 It is chronic, commonly present as a pinkish, fusiform usually bilateral mucosal swelling of the membranous portion of the vocal folds. 13 These nodules are typically located slightly below the vocal fold free edge of the junction of the anterior and middle third of the glottis. Pathophysiologically a forceful vibration of the membranous vocal folds that translates into maximal shearing forces at the midpoint of the vocal ligament. Nodules are much less frequently seen in prepubertal males than in females. 14 Delicate surgical intervention with resection of the nodule with utmost care of normal mucosa and superficial lamina propria layer of the vocal fold is done. 15 Bilateral nodules can be removed during the same session, but a trigone of healthy mucosa must be preserved to avoid vocal fold web formation. 2) Vocal cord Polyps: 12,14,15,16 A vocal polyp is an inflammatory benign swelling of greater than 3 mm that arises from the free edge of the vocal fold. Polyps are the most common cause of hoarseness, frequently seen in middle aged (25-45 years) smokers, males. Phonotrauma is an important while yelling or shouting at times of infective laryngitis or oesophageal reflux are aetiological factor. May be due to disruption to the vascular basement membrane, capillary proliferation, minute haemorrhage and fibrin exudation. Usually solitary, but can be bilateral. Polyps are either sessile or pedunculated (Fig: 1A) and are treated by microsurgical excision (Fig: 1B) followed by intrachordal corticosteroids injection to avoid recurrance with post-operative medical management. 3) Reinke's Edema: 17,18,19,20,21 Reinke's Oedema of vocal fold is essentially seen in smokers with voice abuse, leads to typical inflammatory and oedematous lesion. It can be bilateral, asymmetrical change and more prominent on the superior and free edge of the vocal folds. In this surgery, the mucosa is dissected from the myxoid components of Reinke's oedema on top and from the vocal ligament underneath. Once the pseudomyxoma is fully resected, the mucosa of free edge is folded back onto the vocal ligament and fixed in position with fibrin glue for optimal return of voice. 4) Vocal cord cyst 15,16,22 The cyst is usually unilateral and typically mucoid, fusiform lesion situated in the superficial lamina propria layer in free edge of vocal cord. Cyst results from cicatrical occlusion of a mucus gland duct. A cyst can be approached via a lateral microflap incision made on the superior surface of the vocal fold away from its medial edge. The flap is then elevated from lateral to medial, the lesion excised and the flap replaced. 5) Vocal cord papilloma 23,24 Frequently recurring and are due to the human papilloma virus (subtypes 6 and 11). They are single or multiple, friable and often found at areas of constriction in larynx. Where there is increased air turbulence, drying of mucosa can lead to change of ciliary to squamous epithelium. Surgical techniques for multiple papilloma include using injection of saline submucosally (hydrodissection) and excising the mucosa en-bloc with cold steel. This gives a lower recurrence rate than surface ablation. 6) Vocal cord haemangioma 25,26 The incidence of laryngeal hemangioma in infants is 4-5% but rare in adults and when it is present in adults it is more prevalent in the male population. Mostly midportion vibratory edge of vocal folds are subjected to trauma from chronic over-talking, high volume talk, screaming or aggressive singing i.e. vocal Initially, conservative management with voice rest and steroids is recommended. Episodes of frequent development then need for surgical excision. ? Even though equality seen among both sexes for BVCL but variability existed in each special lesion which explained as in Table : 2 Majority of cases were found to have vocal cord nodules i.e. 14 cases (46.66%) and most commonly found in 8(26.6%) females, while incidence of Reinke's oedema was more in males (13.3%). ? Our study says; each patient of BVCL was suffered whether it was a small or large lesion. Most of the complaints were as follows (Table : 3) # Results # ? In our study, the maximum benign lesions were seen in age groups of 31 to 50 years (Table :1) i.e. 20(66.6%) cases with mean age of patients as per our study is 40.5 years. Where there is equal distribution among male and female for benign vocal cord lesion. Change in the voice/Hoarseness of voice (86.66%) and foreign body sensation (73.33%) were the most common complaints given by patients of benign vocal cord lesion. ? Most of the voice related occupations and person's habits (Table 4 and 5) can be responsible for change in sensitive vocal cord mucosa into benign lesions. # Year # Global # Table 4: Distribution according to occupation Table 5: Distribution of cases according to habits Table 4 and 5 shows vocal cord lesions occurs to people with prolonged voice abusers like teachers, housewife (30%) because of their screaming and shouting and a bad singer can lead to vocal lesions. Cessation of addiction can minimise the appearance of vocal cord lesion. Our study shows 26.6% and 20% patients were affected with benign vocal cord lesion were addicted smoking and tobacco chewing habits respectively. ? After diagnosis of BVCL and its surgical treatment with conventional MLScopy; patients were assessed with voice changes in the form of its speech parameters such as MPT, VHI and GRBAS Score in preoperatively and post-operatively every 7, 30 and 90 days duration shown in Tables 6, 7, 8. There is good improvement seen in mean MPT i.e. from preoperative 10.5 sec to 20.5 sec postoperatively after 1 week of conventional microscopic laryngeal surgery. With corticosteroids and voice rest; marked improvement seen after 3 months along with speech therapy. 10 out of 30 patients (33.33%) shows MPT more than 25sec in 1 week postoperative. B. VHI Score assessment After 4 weeks of surgical and medical management VHI score in preoperative 18cases (60%) were between 31-60score which has improved postoperatively from moderate to mild i.e. upto 0-30 score seen in 23 (76.6%) cases and ultimately voice has improved. # C. GRBAS Score assessment # Discussions We have studied 30 patients with various benign vocal cord lesions operated with conventional ML-Scopy. Our analysis was as follows: BVCL in our study, the commonest pathology was vocal cord nodules 14 (46.66%) cases were noted. Similarly noted in study of Brodnitz who reported 45% of vocal nodules. 27 (20%) 6 cases of vocal cord polyp similar with incidence of study of Mahesh Chandra et al and Kotby et al i.e. 24%. 28,29 Most of our cases were in the 31-50 years of age, which included total 20 cases i.e. almost more than 50% also seen in Siddapur GK et al 30 and Guha et al 31 of benign vocal fold lesion. In our study female preponderance was seen in cases of vocal cord nodules where 53.3: 40% of female: male seen as inverse findings in the study by Chopra et al. 32 As per occupation, 9 (30%) cases were housewives, 8 (26.66%) were labourer, 3(10%) cases of each were teachers and businessmen. Even our study matches with Ruma Guha et al which showed most of the lesions are common in middle age house wife (28%) followed by office workers (26%) and Labourer (22%). 31 All of our patients had change of voice/hoarseness as their major presenting complaint. Siddapur GK et al study shows hoarseness of voice, vocal fatigue and foreign body sensation as the commonest presenting symptoms. 30 It is often seen in patients who are chronically exposed to irritants such as tobacco smoke. 30 The mean MPT preoperatively was 10.5seconds and after 1 week post-operatively was 20.5seconds. In 1week post-operative, 33.33% cases had their mean MPT more than 25seconds; which significantly improved to 50% after 3months with voice rest and speech therapy, study by Emilie Bequignon et al in 2013 had similar results. 33 In a study by Kiagiadaki D et al the maximum phonation time significantly improved post microlaryngoscopy with voice rest. Also noticable improvement was seen in overall GRBAS score. And mean VHI score after 4 weeks shows 76.6% cases improvement into 0-30 VHI Score. While after 3 months post-operative correlated with study by Emilie Bequignon et al and Devora Kiagiadaki et al study 33,34 Surgical approach through conventional ML-Scopy with post-operative speech therapy was the mainstay of our treatment. 35 Excision of vocal cord lesion with maximum preservation of normal mucosa is supported by Singhal et al (94%) and Hegde et al (83.29%) 36,32 Outcome was assessed by various speech indices, symptomatology and Hopkins rigid 70 0 scopy. The patients were assessed at 7 th day post-operative period and then at 1 and 3months post-operatively. Nowadays with advent technology; laser assisted, powered instrument assisted like laryngeal microdebrider microscopic laryngeal surgery has become more precise than conventional surgery. Cons of these new technology are that they are costly and require good surgical skill. ![Fig: 1B Fig: 1A](image-2.png "") 12![Fig. 1: Microlaryngoscopy of left vocal cord sessile polyp Fig. 1A: Preoperative Fig. 1B: Postoperative](image-3.png "Fig. 1 :Fig. 2 :A") 34![Fig. 3: Left vocal cord cyst](image-4.png "Fig. 3 :Fig. 4 :") ![Descriptive Study of Benign Vocal Cord Lesions with Speech Prameters Operated with Microlaryngoscopy](image-5.png "A") 1Sr.No.Age in yearsNo. of malesNo of femalesTotal121-30123231-405712341-50448451-604155>60112TOTAL151530 2Sr.No.Vocal cord lesionsMalesFemalesTotal No. of casesPercentage1Nodules681446.662Polyps246203Haemangioma1126.664Cyst1126.665Papilloma1-13.336oedema Chronic laryngitis with Reinke's41516.66TOTAL151530100 3Sr. no.SymptomsNo of casesPercentage1Change in voice/Hoarseness2686.662Foreign body sensation in throat2273.333Discomfort in throat2066.664Inability to raise the voice9305Fatigue of Voice26.66 6No. Of Cases in Pre & Post OperativeMPT In SecNodulesPolypsHaemang iomaCystPapilloma Reinke's oedemaTotalPre-PostPre-PostPre-PostPre-PostPre-PostPre-PostPre-Post 7VHI Score with severityNodulesNo. Of Cases of Benign Vocal Cord lesion Pre and post operative Polyp Haemang ioma Cyst Papilloma Reinke's oedemaTotalPre-PostPre-PostPre-PostPre-PostPre-PostPre-PostPre-Post0 -3081115121200041123(mild)31-60635110100151186(moderate)61-12000000000100011(severe)TOTAL146221530 8GRBAS ScoreSr. No.Pre-operativePost-operativeNo. of cases110G3R2B0A1S2G1R1B0A1S0214G2R2B0A3S2G0R1B0A0S036G1R1B0A0S2G1R0B0A0S1 YearVolume XX Issue III Version ID D D D )(Medical ResearchGlobal Journal of2020J © 2020 Global Journals Acknowledgements: We are grateful to the Dean Sir, Dr. R. 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