Clinical study of aetiopathogenesis of hoarseness of voice in a tertiary care hospital in South India

Dr Deeganta Mohanty; Dr G. Vinya; Dr Manas Ranjan Rout; Dr CP Das; Dr P.Vittal Prasad

Volume : VII, Issue : VI, June - 2017

Clinical study of aetiopathogenesis of hoarseness of voice in a tertiary care hospital in South India

Dr Deeganta Mohanty, Dr G. Vinya, Dr Manas Ranjan Rout, Dr Cp Das, Dr P. Vittal Prasad

Abstract :

Hoarseness of voice is a symptom with a very diverse etiology. The etiological data varies in different geographical locations and from one centre to other, so every case should be carefully and thoroughly evaluated to know the diagnosis and underlying pathology for early and prompt management. In the present study incidence of hoarseness of voice was 0.3% out of the total cases attending the Department of ENT during the period of October 2014 – June 2016. Maximum number of cases (27.14%) were in the age group of 41–50 years, among males common age groups was 41–50 years (25%) and among females 31– 40 years of age group (36.35%). Hoarseness was commonly found in labourer class (48.57%). Both among males and females this was commonest group comprising 52.08% and 40.90% respectively. Lower socio economic group was commonly noted among many patients (48.57%) and also both in males (50.00%) and females (45.45%). Majority of the patients were from rural areas (64.29%). Smoking was the commonly encountered habit among males (79.17%) and vocal abuse (50%) among females. Along with hoarseness (100%) the other symptoms with which patient presented were dysphagia (27.14%), cough (42.86%), eathlessness (15.71%), foreign body sensation in throat (14.29%), neck mass (7.14%) and haemoptysis(4.29%). Maximum number of patients presented with hoarseness of voice with duration of 1–3 months and 3–6 months. On indirect laryngoscopic examination commonest finding was laryngeal growth (40%). Direct laryngoscopic examination was done in 32.86% and microlaryngoscopic examination in 17.14% and sputum for acid fast bacilli in 5.77%. Among 34 histopathological studies, commonest finding was squamous cell carcinoma (82.35%). Among the 61 treated cases, 47.54% showed improvement of voice, 45.90% showed worsening and 9.83% showed no change in voice after treatment. Our conclusions are, middle aged and elderly patients presenting with hoarseness of voice of more than two–week duration along with habits of smoking, alcohol consumption and chewing tobacco preparations, malignancy must be ruled out. Appropriate treatment after proper diagnosis is the key to treatment and if regularly followed up, the voice of the patient can be restored to almost normal.