Sulcus vocalis: probable genetic etiology. Report of four cases in close relatives.

Sulcus vocalis is a linear depression on the mucosal cover of the vocal folds, parallel to the free border, of variable depth, usually bilateral and symmetrical. Its etiology is controversial. Bouchayer et al. consider it to be congenital because of hoarseness in childhood, its diagnosis in the larynx of children and in many family members, and the very association with other congenital laryngeal lesions. Others consider it to be acquired and secondary to inflammatory or atrophic processes on the vocal cords. The goal of the present study is to describe the presence of sulcus vocalis in four affected members of the same family, reinforcing genetic etiology.