title: Vestibular folds configuration in vocal nodule.
abstract: Vocal nodules are among the most common laryngopathies that cause vocal functional disorders. The voice production mechanism is complex and demand interaction of different systems of the human body. The physiological role of the vocal folds as the glottic sound source is evident, however, there is no consensus regarding the vestibular folds' participation/influence in phonation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To verify if there is difference in the bidimensional configuration of the vestibular folds between two distinct groups of women, one with the diagnosis of vocal nodules and the other without vocal complaints and vocal fold lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical with transversal cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-six laryngeal images were evaluated, 48 from individuals without vocal complaints and 48 from patients with the diagnosis of vocal nodules. Angles were obtained and bilaterally measured in single frames of the vestibular folds during sustained phonation and those structures were morphologically classified as concave, linear or convex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 96 vestibular folds evaluated in each group, there was predominance of the concave form, followed by the linear and the convex ones. In the control group, there was a single convex vestibular fold, 27 were linear and 68 were concave folds. In the group of vocal nodules, 8 were convex, 15 were linear and 73 were concave folds. However, the differences among groups were not statistically significant as well as those among the angles, whose average measures were proven quite similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the female gender, the vestibular folds presented similar behavior regarding the morphology in both patients with vocal nodules and women without vocal complaints.
authors.affiliation: Program of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP-EPM.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuma
authors.forename: Osíris Oliveira Camponês do
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Brasil
authors.forename: Paulo Augusto de Lima
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Pontes
authors.forename: Reinaldo Kasuo
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Yasaki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008875:Middle Aged; D010699:Phonation / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology