The Association of Objective Voice Measurement With Treatment of Vocal Fold Masses

Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis To determine the predictive value of objective voice measurements in patients with vocal fold masses for receiving medical or surgical management. Study Design Retrospective chart review. Methods Patients presented from January 2015 through March 2020 and diagnosed with vocal fold mass. Objective voice measurements studied were average fundamental frequency, jitter percent, relative average perturbation, shimmer percent, noise to harmonic ratio, standard deviation of fundamental frequency, maximum phonation time, and S:Z ratio. Non-parametric Mann Whitney U test, chi square and fisher exact test were used. Results Ninety-six patients (48 male and 48 female) were included. Males who received surgical management (MS) had significantly higher jitter percent (1.82 ± 1.34) than males who received medical management (MM) (1.16 ± 19.21), P = 0.02. Furthermore, MS had significantly higher relative average perturbation percent (1.06 ± 0.78) than MM (0.68 ± 0.57), P = 0.03. Females who received surgical management had significantly lower shimmer percent (3.74 ± 2.88) than females who received medical management (4.66 ± 2.42), P = 0.01. Univariate significance was found in some female confounding variables. A logistic regression model did not show significance. Conclusion Males with high jitter percent and relative average perturbation are more likely to receive surgical management for vocal fold masses. Females with lower shimmer percent are more likely to have surgical management of vocal fold masses when compared to the medical management group. Objective voice measures did not show significant predictive value when controlled for confounding variables. To determine the predictive value of objective voice measurements in patients with vocal fold masses for receiving medical or surgical management. Retrospective chart review. Patients presented from January 2015 through March 2020 and diagnosed with vocal fold mass. Objective voice measurements studied were average fundamental frequency, jitter percent, relative average perturbation, shimmer percent, noise to harmonic ratio, standard deviation of fundamental frequency, maximum phonation time, and S:Z ratio. Non-parametric Mann Whitney U test, chi square and fisher exact test were used. Ninety-six patients (48 male and 48 female) were included. Males who received surgical management (MS) had significantly higher jitter percent (1.82 ± 1.34) than males who received medical management (MM) (1.16 ± 19.21), P = 0.02. Furthermore, MS had significantly higher relative average perturbation percent (1.06 ± 0.78) than MM (0.68 ± 0.57), P = 0.03. Females who received surgical management had significantly lower shimmer percent (3.74 ± 2.88) than females who received medical management (4.66 ± 2.42), P = 0.01. Univariate significance was found in some female confounding variables. A logistic regression model did not show significance. Males with high jitter percent and relative average perturbation are more likely to receive surgical management for vocal fold masses. Females with lower shimmer percent are more likely to have surgical management of vocal fold masses when compared to the medical management group. Objective voice measures did not show significant predictive value when controlled for confounding variables.