Apoptosis in Vocal Fold Polyps

Summary Objective To examine the degree of apoptosis and its role in the pathogenesis of polyps of the vocal folds. Material and Method A review of the pathology department's archives for patients diagnosed with vocal fold polyps between 2010 and 2016 has been conducted. As a control group, gross and microscopically intact vocal fold from laryngectomy specimens was collected. A total of 61 vocal fold polyps from 51 patients and 41 unremarkable vocal folds from the control group were identified. Microscopically, the parameters studied were as follows: apoptosis, mitosis, inflammation, and exocytosis. Apoptotic index (number of apoptotic cells) was determined by the number of apoptotic cells per millimeter square in the epithelium. Apoptotic cells were readily identified by deeply shrunken eosinophilic cells detached from the surrounding environment with pyknotic-degenerated nuclei. Results In polyps, the apoptotic index was statistically higher than the control group (ρ = 0.000). In addition, the increased apoptotic index in polyps showed a statistically proportional increase in mitotic index, inflammation, and exocytosis, which were significantly higher compared to control group. Conclusion As a key for several therapeutic modalities, manipulation of apoptosis can be a future route for approaching vocal fold polyps by deciphering the complex signal pathways that allow the specified apoptotic cell to be targeted without damaging its surrounding counterpart.