Are vocal cord cysts dangerous?

The article was professionally consulted with Doctor CKII Nguyen Van Thai - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec International General Hospital Da Nang.

The surface of the vocal cords has complex folds. Local trauma from overuse of the voice can lead to the formation of vocal cord cysts. Since this is a relatively rare disease in the community, the problem of dangerous vocal cord cysts does not need to be disseminated to proactively prevent.

Vocal cord cyst, also known as laryngeal fold cyst, is a benign, noncancerous local lesion. This condition often develops when a person overuses his or her voice. The incidence of vocal cord cysts is unknown but is uncommon. However, the incidence is much higher in people who use voice as part of their profession.
In addition to cysts, vocal cord polyps are present at the vocal cord site, which is an overgrowth of tissue arising from the mucous membranes and vocal cord papillomas, an unspecified mass of tissue but usually not a cyst. Cancer, can also form on the vocal cords. While nodules and polyps are difficult to distinguish, vocal cord cysts are easier to identify than the other two.
There are currently three types of vocal cord cysts commonly found. Having the same nature as clear secretory cysts originating from mucosal cells of the respiratory tract, the types of vocal cord cysts are classified according to their cellular nature, including: epithelial cysts, neoplasms, and cysts. squamous cysts and glandular cysts. Of these, epithelial cysts are most commonly caused by overuse of the vocal cords or by excessive coughing while adenocarcinomas are associated with old age and poor vocal hygiene.

Vocal cord cysts often cause a range of symptoms that vary from person to person. Accordingly, some people with vocal cord cysts may experience the following symptoms:
Hoarseness Sudden loss of voice Difficulty singing at certain pitches Sore throat Fatigue However, a small number of patients go to the doctor because difficulty breathing, difficulty speaking. This is a sign that the disease has entered an advanced stage and the vocal cord cyst has grown in size, causing pressure on nearby tissues.

Accurate diagnosis of vocal cord injuries is important because treatment can range from conservative treatment with medical therapy, lifestyle and dietary changes to invasive treatments. more invasive like surgery. Accordingly, the diagnosis of vocal cord cysts can be made by laryngoscopy, which allows the otolaryngologist to directly examine the two vocal cords and determine the impact of the cyst on vibration. of the vocal cords. At this point, before deciding on direct treatment, doctors often recommend that patients rest their voice and then repeat laryngoscopy to assess improvement.
The next step is medical treatment with pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs if voice therapy does not help or gives only very little relief. Most patients with vocal cord cysts find that their hoarseness is greatly improved when a strong steroid anti-inflammatory is prescribed.
Finally, surgical intervention of the vocal cords when the above treatment steps are not effective or the initial damage is already severe from the moment it appears. Otolaryngologists need to use microsurgery tools and the intervention will take place under a microscope. The goal of surgery is to remove the cyst from the vocal cord tissue, but with a care that is minimally invasive. All manipulations need to be well controlled to limit further damage to the vocal cord mucosa, avoid the risk of scarring, fibrosis and posterior retraction.
Besides, the treatment of vocal cord cysts also avoids missing other potential causes that can also affect the voice, such as gastroesophageal reflux, allergies and sinusitis. In addition, patients are not only encouraged to limit speaking and singing but also avoid exposure to direct and indirect tobacco smoke, reduce stress, and have a reasonable rest and nutritional balance.

The degree of impact or danger of vocal cord cysts depends on the cause and response to treatment of the disease.
If initial voice therapy is recommended, and follow-up for about three months thereafter shows a favorable condition, a good prognosis for vocal cord cysts can be assessed.
On the contrary, if the patient does not respond to speech therapy and also to medical treatment, the indication for surgical intervention may present a new opportunity. However, the effectiveness of surgical treatment depends greatly on the size of the cyst, the extent of previous invasion or compression. At the same time, the skill of the surgeon is also important, the less epithelium is damaged during cyst dissection, the higher the ability to restore physiological vibration function of the vocal cords. Likewise, if the affected surface heals the scar tissue, the sticky cord, the ability to restore the voice to its original timbre is difficult.
However, in any situation, voice therapy is always essential, possibly starting about a month after surgery and reassessed in the clinic about 3, 6 months later. month and 12 months.
In addition, the laryngoscopy procedure itself carries the risk of causing unwanted lesions on the vocal fold mucosa. In addition, trauma during laryngoscopy can also cause nerve damage, numbness of the tongue, change in taste and tooth trauma...
In short, a vocal cord cyst itself is an injury. benign but if delayed intervention will affect the voice and even loss of voice. At the same time, when specifying the procedure, caution in manipulation is the most important thing to pay attention to, in order to limit trauma and protect language ability in the long run.
Vinmec International General Hospital with a system of modern facilities and medical equipment, especially the laryngotracheal endoscopy system as well as the new generation electron microscope, with a team of experts, With many years of experience in medical examination and treatment, patients can rest assured that they will be examined and treated at the Hospital.