title: A nomenclature paradigm for benign midmembranous vocal fold lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a significant lack of uniform agreement regarding nomenclature for benign vocal fold lesions (BVFLs). This confusion results in difficulty for clinicians communicating with their patients and with each other. In addition, BVFL research and comparison of treatment methods are hampered by the lack of a detailed and uniform BVFL nomenclature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical consensus conferences were held to develop an initial BVFL nomenclature paradigm. Perceptual video analysis was performed to validate the stroboscopy component of the paradigm.
  
  
  METHODS
  The culmination of the consensus conferences and the video-perceptual analysis was used to evaluate the BVFL nomenclature paradigm using a retrospective review of patients with BVFL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An initial BVFL nomenclature paradigm was proposed utilizing detailed definitions relating to vocal fold lesion morphology, stroboscopy, response to voice therapy and intraoperative findings. Video-perceptual analysis of stroboscopy demonstrated that the proposed binary stroboscopy system used in the BVFL nomenclature paradigm was valid and widely applicable. Retrospective review of 45 patients with BVFL followed to the conclusion of treatment demonstrated that slight modifications of the initial BVFL nomenclature paradigm were required. With the modified BVFL nomenclature paradigm, 96% of the patients fit into the predicted pattern and definitions of the BVFL nomenclature system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has validated a multidimensional BVFL nomenclature paradigm. This vocal fold nomenclature paradigm includes nine distinct vocal fold lesions: vocal fold nodules, vocal fold polyp, pseudocyst, vocal fold cyst (subepithelial or ligament), nonspecific vocal fold lesion, vocal fold fibrous mass (subepithelial or ligament), and reactive lesion.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Voice Center, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. RosenCA@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Clark A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gartner-Schmidt
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hathaway
authors.forename: C Blake
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Gregory N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Courey
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Sataloff
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015331:Cohort Studies; D032921:Consensus; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D049489:Stroboscopy / Q000379:methods; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014741:Video Recording; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery