<unk>  fold nodules are thought to be the result of<unk>  fold tissue trauma caused by excessive mechanical stress. During phonation, the<unk>  folds undergo many forms of mechanical stress. One example of such stress is the impact stress caused by the collision between the left and right<unk>  fold surfaces during vibration. This stress is thought to reach its maximum in the mid-membranous region of the<unk>  folds, at the junction of the anterior 1/3rd and posterior 2/3rd, the most common site of nodule formation.<unk>  overuse (speaking for long periods), abuse (yelling), or misuse (hyperfunction) may produce excessive amounts of mechanical stress by increasing the rate and/or force with which the<unk>  folds collide. This may lead to trauma that is<unk> ized to the mid-membranous<unk>  fold and subsequent wound formation. Repeated or chronic mechanical stress is thought to lead to the remodeling of the superficial layer of the lamina propria. It is this process of tissue remodeling that results in the formation of benign lesions of the<unk>  folds such as nodules. There are several factors that may predispose an individual to<unk>  fold nodules. Activities or professions that may contribute to phonotraumatic behaviors include cheerleading, untrained singing, speaking above noise, and teaching without voice amplification, as these increase mechanical stress and subsequent<unk>  fold trauma. Gender may be another predisposing factor, as<unk>  fold nodules occur more frequently in females. The presence of dehydration, respiratory infection, and inflammatory factors may also act as predisposing or aggravating factors. Inflammatory factors may include allergies, tobacco and alcohol use, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and other environmental influences.
Vocal cord nodule
Colloid nodule
Tracheobronchomegaly
Vocal cord cyst
Ground-glass opacity
Mediastinal lymphadenopathy
Cold nodule
Tracheal agenesis