Predominant Vertical Location of Benign Vocal Fold Lesions by Sex and Music Genre: Implication for Pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Vertical locations of vocal fold mucosal lesions (VFMLs) vary along the free edge. As the vertical contact area of vocal folds (VFs) depends on the vocal register, lesions may occur in the contact area of more frequently used vocal registers. This study investigated the cause of location variations by comparing the vertical sites of VFMLs in singers of both sexes with different music genres.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective review.

METHODS

Sixty professional classical and rock singers (11 male classical [M-classical], 22 male rock [M-rock], 13 female classical [F-classical], and 14 female rock [F-rock] singers) who underwent microlaryngeal surgery for VF polyps and nodules and their 108 lesions were enrolled. The VF free edge was vertically divided into three equal parts and classified into the following four lesion sites: upper, middle, lower, and multiple sites.

RESULTS

Upper lesions were most common among F-classical singers (73.9%), whereas lower lesions were most common among M-classical (90.0%) and M-rock (60.6%) singers. Among lesions localized to a single site, lower lesions were most common among F-rock singers (37.0%). F-classical singers had significantly more upper lesions than the other groups (P < .001). M-classical singers had significantly more lower lesions than female singers of any genre (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Upper lesions were most common among F-classical singers who mostly used the head voice. Lower lesions were most common among singers who mainly used the modal voice. This study suggests that sex, the dominant vocal register used for singing, and mechanical stress on VFs influence the vertical site of VFMLs.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2284-E2291, 2021.