Does subepithelial hemorrhage cause persistence of laryngeal granuloma?
OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of black spots after resolution of laryngeal granuloma (LG), to compare the disease duration from the beginning of treatment to resolution between patients with and without black spots, and to assess the histologic findings of LG in resected or biopsied specimens. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: Forty-six patients with LG on the cartilaginous portion of the vocal fold were included. Their clinical records were reviewed. Histologic specimens were re-examined. RESULTS: Causes of LG were postintubation in 10 patients, unilateral vocal fold immobility in 1, Candida infection in 1, and were not specified in 34 (either hyperfunctional vocal abuse, laryngopharyngeal regurgitation, or both). Of the 10 patients with postintubation LG, 9 resolved; of the 33 patients with LG from other causes, 21 resolved. Of the 28 resolved patients, 12 developed a black spot at the previous lesion site. Of the 18 patients whose LG resolved without surgical interventi