title: Treatment Efficacy of Voice Therapy for Vocal Fold Polyps and Factors Predictive of Its Efficacy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vocal fold polyps can be treated with either surgical resection or conservative therapy based on voice therapy. This study was designed to analyze the success rate of voice therapy and identify factors that are predictive of the response to this treatment for vocal fold polyps.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective cohort study of 92 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with vocal fold polyp(s) and received voice therapy. We divided the patients into responding and non-responding groups. We analyzed clinical and voice parameters related to the voice results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After voice therapy, 40 patients showed improved findings and did not undergo surgical treatment. By univariate analysis, female patients (54.9%) and small polyps (56.1%) showed a good response to voice therapy. In multivariate analysis, female sex (odds ratio [OR] = 0.34; confidence interval [CI]: 0.14-0.81, P = 0.01) and small size (OR = 0.15; CI: 0.05-0.47, P <0.01) were significantly related to a successful voice response. In small polyps, the sessile type of polyp was found to be related to a good response rate (OR = 0.24; CI: 0.11-0.95, P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Voice therapy is more effective for small vocal polyps, particularly the sessile type, in female patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.. Electronic address: manseilee@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yoon Se
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dam Hee
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Go-Eun
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Lyel
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.. Electronic address: synam@amc.seoul.kr.
authors.forename: Soon Yuhl
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nam
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011127:Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014833:Voice Quality; D014834:Voice Training; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Predicting factors; Size; Type; Vocal fold polyp; Voice therapy