Application of Thulium Laser as Office-based Procedure in Patients With Vocal Fold Polyps.
PURPOSE
To report the voice outcome measures of thulium laser therapy as an office procedure in patients with vocal fold polyps.


METHOD
This is a retrospective chart review of all patients with vocal fold polyps who underwent office-based thulium laser treatment between November 2016 and December 2017. Demographic data were collected. Objective voice outcome measures included extent of resolution, type of closure, and mucosal wave characteristics. Also, subjective outcome measures were reported, namely, Voice Handicap Index-10.


RESULTS
A total of 20 patients were enrolled with a mean age of 50.95 ± 14.70 years. All patients had unilateral vocal fold polyps except for one who had bilateral polyps. Out of the 20 patients, 16 had complete regression of disease and 4 had partial regression. The number of patients with incomplete glottal closure decreased from 12 pretreatment to only 1 patient posttreatment, and the number of patients with impaired mucosal waves decreased from 13 to 5. There was also a significant decrease in the mean VHI-10 score before and after treatment (15.61 vs. 4.61 P value < 0.001).


CONCLUSION
Thulium laser can be used as an office procedure for the treatment of vocal fold polyps.
['Hamdan|Abdul-Latif|AL|', 'Khalifee|Elie|E|', 'Ghanem|Anthony|A|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007818:Laryngeal Diseases D053685:Laser Therapy D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D011127:Polyps D020127:Recovery of Function D012189:Retrospective Studies D013932:Thulium D013997:Time Factors D016896:Treatment Outcome D014827:Vocal Cords D014832:Voice Disorders D014833:Voice Quality
Thulium laser Office-based procedure Vocal fold polyps Voice outcome measures VHI-10