Noninvasive Detection of Arytenoid Cartilage Calcification Using Computed Tomography and Prediction of Prognosis in Laryngeal Contact Granuloma.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE\nLaryngeal contact granuloma (LCG) is a relatively uncommon disease with chronic inflammatory stimulation, and long-term reflux irritation is a vital factor for arytenoid cartilage calcification. Our investigation compared the severity of ipsilateral arytenoid cartilage calcification with the frequency of recurrence of LCG after surgical treatment.\n\n\nMETHODS\nA retrospective chart review of prospectively gathered data over five years from 327 patients, including 153 subjects without laryngeal lesions, were age- and sex-matched normal controls, 103 patients with various other vocal cord lesions were in the laryngeal lesion group and 71 LCG patients met the diagnostic criteria pathologically. All subjects underwent laryngeal high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) prior to therapeutic interventions. The computed tomography (CT) value and arytenoid cartilage calcification were obtained using image data before surgery, and their clinical significance was further analyzed.\n\n\nRESULTS\nSeventy-one patients with LCG, including sixty-two males, were enrolled in the study. Among these cases, there were 67 patients with unilateral vocal cord lesions. Of the 103 eligible patients in the laryngeal lesion group, 87 had unilateral lesions, which including eighty-seven men. Of the 153 average subjects, 105 were male. The rate of arytenoid cartilage calcification in the LCG group was dramatically higher in the lesion side than in the laryngeal lesions and normal group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the CT value (P < 0.01) and range of calcification (P < 0.01) were significantly higher in patients with LCG than in those with laryngeal lesions. Importantly, patients with high CT values and the calcification range of lesions in the arytenoid cartilage displayed a greater lesion size and recurrence rate than patients with low CT values and lesion areas (P < 0.01).\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nOur results suggest that most patients with LCG present with calcification of the arytenoid cartilage. The more severe the calcification in the arytenoid cartilage, the greater the risk of granuloma size and recurrence in LCG after surgical treatment. CT and bone density testing of the arytenoid cartilage may be an essential method to evaluate the prognosis of LCG.