Duplication of Vocal Cords: A Report of Two Cases

Abstract

In this report, we present the endoscopic images of two patients with duplication of the vocal cords. Both of them underwent flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy for different indications and this finding was just incidental. The first patient was admitted primarily for an acute abdomen and had a prolonged hospital stay because he developed pneumonia postoperatively. Bronchoscopy was performed four months after discharge because of persistent infiltrate and a nodule at the right lung base. This revealed duplication of the vocal cords with both sets moving briskly in tandem with phonation. The second case had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and underwent lung volume reduction surgery one year prior to this admission. He presented with hemoptysis and bronchoscopy revealed duplication of the vocal cords with no endobronchial lesion or bleeding visualized. In this case, the caudal set moved minimally with phonation. In both instances, there was no manifestation of vocal cord dysfunction and both had no history of vocal cord disorders. The structures visualized had striking similarities to the glottis and we strongly doubt that these might have been post-intubation stenoses. A 25-year literature search yielded no reported case similar to ours. We believe that this condition does not lead to any significant clinical sequelae and therefore any form of intervention is unnecessary.