STROBOSCOPIC SIGNS ASSOCIATED WITH BENIGN LESIONS OF THE VOCAL FOLDS

Stroboscopic signs were systematically rated for a group of 80 patient s with benign vocal fold lesions, most of whom had either a nodule or a polyp. Each group revealed a characteristic pattern of ranking of si gns and exhibited differences of most predominant signs, The results o f the ratings were submitted to a multiple discriminant analysis to de termine if post hoc stroboscopic ratings could be used to correctly cl assify patients into one of four diagnostic groups and into one of two treatment groups, All patients except one were correctly classified i nto the diagnostic groups, and all were correctly classified into the treatment groups. The important signs for classifying patients into th e diagnostic groups were roughness of the edge of the affected vocal f old, phase closure pattern, and phase symmetry. The important signs fo r classifying patients into the treatment groups were roughness of the edge of the affected vocal fold, glottal closure configuration, and v ibration characteristics of the affected (or more affected) vocal fold . The results suggest that objective evaluation of stroboscopic examin ations can be valuable in correctly diagnosing patients and in selecti ng the proper treatment regimen for the patient.