Helicobacter pylori colonization in the larynges of patients with hoarseness.
OBJECTIVE
Vocal nodules and polyps are two common noninfectious causes of hoarseness. Patients with persistent hoarseness often require microscopic laryngeal surgery to excise mass lesions of the larynx despite extensive voice resting and modification of voice use behavior. Helicobacter pylori has recently been reported to present in the upper aerodigestive tract. This study applies the rapid urease test to determine the colonization of Helicobacter pylori in surgical specimens of patients with vocal nodules and polyps.


METHODS
In this prospective study, 53 consecutive patients with vocal nodules (n = 20) or vocal polyps (n = 33) were investigated from November 2004 to July 2005. Microscopic laryngeal surgery was performed in all cases. Tissue specimens harvested from the larynx were analyzed using the rapid urease test.


RESULTS
The study population consisted of 33 females and 20 males with a mean age of 43.1 +/- 9.9 years. Thirteen (24.5%) of the 53 patients revealed Helicobacter pylori colonization, and all were histopathologically diagnosed with vocal polyps. The difference in incidence of Helicobacter pylori colonization between vocal nodules and vocal polyps was statistically significant (0% [0/20] vs. 39.4% [13/33], P = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Helicobacter pylori often colonizes in the larynxes of patients with vocal polyps. These results indicate the involvement of Helicobacter pylori in vocal polyps. However, the presence of Helicobacter pylori as an etiologic factor in vocal polyps remains inconclusive.
Fang
Tuan-Jen
TJ
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
Lee
Li-Ang
LA
Li
Hsueh-Yu
HY
Yang
Chun
C
Huang
Chung-Guei
CG
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D007830:Larynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D011127:Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000382:microbiology