The case records and histology of 34 patients with vocal process granu
lomata were reviewed. The five patients presenting most recently with
idiopathic vocal process granulomata were investigated by axial comput
erized tomography (CT). Increased density of the arytenoid cartilage o
n the side of the lesion was found in all five cases. It is suggested
that this indicates cartilage ossification, secondary to periochondrit
is. This perichondritis, playing either a primary or a secondary role
in granuloma development, may explain the annoying tendency of vocal f
old granulomata to recur after excision.