Voice change: a differential diagnostic sign for leukoplakia?

Abstract

Objectives:In this study, the acoustic changes in leukoplakia and acoustic similarities between leukoplakia and chronic laryngitis were investigated and they are compared with nondysphonic control group.Methods:26 chronic laryngitis patients, 23 males and 3 females, aged between 21 and 64 years old and 23 patients with leukoplakia, 22 males and 1 female, aged between 44 and 67 years old were included to the study. All of the patients were examined with videolaryngoscopy using a 70º rigid scope. In the light of the endoscopic findings of the leukoplakia group, incisional biopsy was taken from the vocal fold under general anesthesia from all of them. Control group consist of 80 nondysphonic volunteers, 67 males and 13 females. Auditive and acoustic analysis, voice range profile, maximum phonation time and the Disphonia Severity Index (DSI) were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using paired sample t-test and ANOVA.Results:There was a statistically significant difference in Roughness, Breathiness and Hoarseness (RBH) and DSI scores between control group-chronic laryngitis and control groupleukoplakia group. There was not a statistically significant difference in RBH and DSI scores between chronic laryngitis and leukoplakia group.Conclusion:In the light of these findings, the voice change, objectively and subjectively, is not a differential diagnostic sign for leukoplakia. The voice qualities of chronic laryngitis and leukoplakia group were similar.

Keywords

• chronic laryngitis
• leukoplakia
• voice.