title: Sulcus Vocalis (Type III): Prevalence and Strobovideolaryngoscopy Characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The reported prevalence of sulcus vocalis (SV)/type III, a pathologic groove in the vibratory margin of the vocal fold, varies greatly in the literature. Difficulties in visualizing the defect and a variety of descriptions have complicated the evaluation of SV. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of SV by reviewing strobovideolaryngoscopy (SVL) examinations in subjects with and without dysphonia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Charts and SVL images were reviewed for subjects with and without dysphonia and analyzed using standard statistical techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SVL images were reviewed for 94 nondysphonia subjects and 100 dysphonia subjects. For all subjects, 19.6% had type I, 2.1% had type II, and 5.7% had type III/SV. Per vocal fold, 14.7% had type I, 1.3% had type II, 3.1% had type III/SV and 13.1% had scar. The prevalence of SV per subject was not significantly different between the two groups (8% of dysphonia subjects, 3.2% of nondysphonia subjects). Male gender, decreased amplitude, decreased waveform, and hypodyamic motion were significantly higher in the dysphonia SV subjects compared with the non-SV subjects. All other SVL characteristics were not significantly different in subjects with SV compared with non-SV subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report a prevalence of SV/type III at 3.1% (per vocal fold) and 5.7% (per subject). Higher frequencies of male gender and waveform abnormalities were seen in the dysphonia SV subjects only. There were no significant differences in nondysphonia subjects with or without SV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Drexel University, College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: A Morgan
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Selleck
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Jaime Eaglin
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida.
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rutt
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Drexel University, College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Drexel University, College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: rsataloff@phillyent.com.
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Sataloff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D049489:Stroboscopy; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Strobovideolaryngoscopy; Sulcus; Sulcus vocalis