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Physical Characteristics
Contact granulomas can be physically identified and diagnosed by observing the presence of proliferative tissue originating from the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage. Identification is carried out by laryngoscopy, which produces an image of the lesion in the form of an abnormal growth (nodule or polyp) or ulceration. The vocal process is overwhelmingly the most common laryngeal site for these lesions, although they have also been observed on the medial and anterior portions of the vocal folds. In nodule or polyp form, contact granulomas generally have a grey or dark red colouring and measure 2 to 15 mm in size. Contact granulomas can occur unilaterally or bilaterally, affecting one or both vocal folds.

Steroids
The application of corticosteroids to treat contact granulomas is considered a more extreme approach and its utility remains in contention. When employed, it is usually used in conjunction with antibiotics for the reduction of pain and inflammation related to the granuloma. This treatment can be administered orally, through inhalation, or through intralesion injection.

Botox Injection
The injection of botulinum neurotoxin A, or Botox, to treat contact granulomas is considered a more extreme approach, and is generally only pursued when the case has been resistant to other treatments. In this approach, Botox is injected into the thyroarytenoid muscle (unilaterally or bilaterally), targeting a reduction in the contact forces of the arytenoids.

Epidemiology
Across all posited aetiologies, contact granulomas are more commonly observed in male patients than in female patients, and more commonly in adult patients than in pediatric patients. In cases where gastroesophageal reflux disease is identified as the most likely cause of the granuloma, the patient is most commonly an adult man in his 30s or 40s. When contact granulomas do occur in female and pediatric patients, they usually occur post-intubation. There are no observable age or gender trends within the category of post-intubation patients suffering from contact granulomas, nor within the causation category of vocal abuse history.