telefon

Berlin Center
+49 30 315 076 55

Mail

Mail
info@wohlt.com

telefon

Vienna Center
+43 1 513 05 27

whatsapp

WhatsApp
+49 160 948 703 37

GER

Deutsch
Español
Italiano
中国
русский
العربية

telefon
Mail
EN

Deutsch
Español
Italiano
中国
русский
العربية

MENUMENU
MENUMENU
  • Dr. Wohlt
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Press & Media
    • Philosophy
  • Organization
    • Appointments
    • Berlin Center
    • Vienna Center
    • Invoicing for Services
    • International Patients
  • Voice Disorders
    • Voice Disorders – General Information
    • Vocal Cord Paralysis
    • Vocal Cord Nodules
    • Vocal Cord Polyps
    • Reinke’s Edema
    • Vocal Cord Cyst
    • Laryngeal Papillomatosis
    • Vocal Cord Granuloma – Contact Granuloma
    • Vocal Cord Leukoplakia | Laryngeal Cancer
    • Aging Voice - Vocal Cord Atrophy
    • Functional Dysphonia
    • Psychogenic Dysphonia
  • Voice Surgery
    • Voice Surgery - General Information
    • Vocal Cord Paralysis Surgery
    • Vocal Cord Nodules Surgery
    • Vocal Cord Polyp Surgery
    • Reinke's Edema Surgery
    • Vocal Cord Cyst Surgery
    • Laryngeal Papillomatosis Surgery
    • Vocal Cord Leukoplakia Surgery
    • Vocal Fold Augmentation After Cancer Surgery
    • Anti-Aging Voice Surgery
  • Voice Therapy
    • Voice Therapy - Speaking Voice
    • Voice Therapy - Singing Voice
    • Vocal Rehabilitation After Vocal Cord Surgery
  • Singers' Page
    • Vocal Arts Medicine
    • Voice Surgery for Professional Singers
    • Vocal Rehabilitation for Professional Singers
    • Vocal Cord Surgery for Singers
telefon

Berlin Center
+49 30 315 076 55

Mail

Mail
info@wohlt.com

telefon

Vienna Center
+43 1 513 05 27

whatsapp

WhatsApp
+49 160 948 703 37

GER

Deutsch
Español
Italiano
中国
русский
العربية

telefon
Mail
EN

Deutsch
Español
Italiano
中国
русский
العربية

  • Dr. Wohlt
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Press & Media
    • Philosophy
  • Organization
    • Appointments
    • Berlin Center
    • Vienna Center
    • Invoicing for Services
    • International Patients
  • Voice Disorders
    • Voice Disorders – General Information
    • Vocal Cord Paralysis
    • Vocal Cord Nodules
    • Vocal Cord Polyps
    • Reinke’s Edema
    • Vocal Cord Cyst
    • Laryngeal Papillomatosis
    • Vocal Cord Granuloma – Contact Granuloma
    • Vocal Cord Leukoplakia | Laryngeal Cancer
    • Aging Voice – Vocal Cord Atrophy
    • Functional Dysphonia
    • Psychogenic Dysphonia
  • Voice Surgery
    • Voice Surgery – General Information
    • Vocal Cord Paralysis Surgery
    • Vocal Cord Nodules Surgery
    • Vocal Cord Polyp Surgery
    • Reinke’s Edema Surgery
    • Vocal Cord Cyst Surgery
    • Laryngeal Papillomatosis Surgery
    • Vocal Cord Leukoplakia Surgery
    • Vocal Fold Augmentation After Cancer Surgery
    • Anti-Aging Voice Surgery
  • Voice Therapy
    • Voice Therapy – Speaking Voice
    • Voice Therapy – Singing Voice
    • Vocal Rehabilitation After Vocal Cord Surgery
  • Singers’ Page
    • Vocal Arts Medicine
    • Voice Surgery for Professional Singers
    • Vocal Rehabilitation for Professional Singers
    • Vocal Cord Surgery for Singers

Vocal Cord Polyps | Vocal Fold Polyps

What is a vocal cord polyp?

A vocal cord polyp is an abnormal, unilaterally growing tissue lesion of varying size and shape. Vocal cord polyps are basically differentiated into two types:

  • Hemorrhagic polyps
  • Gelatinous polyps

Hemorrhagic polyps are usually reddish-brown lesions that are vascularized by small capillaries, sometimes appearing like a blood blister. Thickened blood vessels on the vocal folds that run in the direction of these polyps are frequently also seen.

The type referred to as gelatinous polyps has a variously dimensioned pattern with a glass-like appearance and transparent surface structure.

In addition, a variety of polypous mixed forms can occur. Vocal fold polyps are usually localized in the mid- to anterior third of the vocal folds. Because they block vocal fold closure and cause impairment to vocal fold vibration, they produce varying degrees of impairing hoarseness.

Small hemorrhagic vocal cord polyp

vocal cord polyp

How do vocal fold polyps develop?

Vocal fold polyps are basically the most common type of organic voice disorder; they mostly develop unilaterally, but in rare cases also bilaterally and are caused by overuse of the voice. Patients usually report having used their speaking or singing voice excessively prior to their symptoms.

In these cases, their voice overuse may have existed for a longer period of time, in other words, have become chronic. However, it is also possible that a singular event, called phonotrauma, has led to the formation of a vocal fold polyp.

In many cases, the development of a vocal fold polyp is associated with smoking. Vocal cord polyps occur in an overwhelming majority of men.

Large hemorrhagic vocal cord polyp

hemorrhagic vocal cord polyp

What symptoms do vocal cord polyps cause?

  • Hoarse and rough voice
  • Fluctuation between a hoarse and clear voice
  • Rapid vocal fatigue
  • Rarely: Respiratory complaints

Patients with vocal cord polyps mostly complain about a rough, hoarse voice, a limited ability for vocal exertion as well as rapid vocal fatigue.

Sometimes a polyp is pedunculated, in other words, it flaps in the respiratory flow like a pendulum. This means that the polyp is located between the two vocal cords, causing the hoarseness, but at times is also situated underneath the level of the vocal folds. When this is the case, the voice mostly sounds clear.

If a vocal fold polyp grows to a significant size, it can block the vocal folds completely, causing impairment to the patient's breathing.

What treatment options are available for vocal fold polyps?

  • Voice surgery

Treatments that have no effect on the symptomatology:

  • Pharmacotherapy
  • Inhalation
  • Voice therapy

By nature of their pathogenesis, vocal fold polyps cannot be treated by voice therapy. Therapeutic exercises can only help the patients to slightly compensate for their hoarseness in the early stages.

Essentially, it can be said that vocal cord polyps can only truly be treated successfully by a phonosurgical procedure (go to Voice Surgery for Vocal Cord Polyps).

Example of phonosurgical treatment for vocal cord polyps

Vocal cord polyps before surgery

Vocal cord polyps after surgery

Truths and Myths About Vocal Cord Polyps

A vocal cord polyp is basically not a form of vocal fold cancer. It should be pointed out, however, that cornification can form on the polyp surface in isolated cases.

Secondary malignant changes, therefore, cannot be ruled out with certainty in all cases. Furthermore, it is possible that vocal cord polyps can develop when vocal cord cancer is on the contralateral side.

Case Report: Vocal Cord Polyp

A 46-year-old car mechanic had been noticing increasing hoarseness for several months. He reported that his voice was hoarse and deep, that speaking and shouting in the auto workshop had become increasingly strenuous. His voice would tire much more quickly than it did several months ago.

The patient stated that he smokes around 10 cigarettes a day and has been doing so for over 20 years. When asked specifically, he remembered that some months previously he had to shout very loudly to be heard over the running car motors in the auto workshop. Afterwards, his voice kept getting worse and worse.

The videostroboscopic examination by the ENT specialist revealed a medium-sized hemorrhagic polyp on the right side; a contralateral indentation was noted at the edge of the left vocal fold. The vibrations of the right vocal fold were markedly interrupted compared to the left side. Vocal fold closure was no longer possible. His voice sounded rough and his average speaking pitch was markedly lowered.

The patient reported that he was no longer able to sing.

The patient was recommended to undergo a phonosurgical procedure. This would involve the surgical method of plastic reconstruction. After successful surgery and a 14-day vocal rest phase, both vocal folds exhibited smooth vocal fold margins, equilateral vibratory patterns as well as complete vocal fold closure.

His vocal quality was strong and clear and his average speaking pitch was markedly higher. The patient perceived his own voice to be the same as before the (phono)trauma he had suffered in the auto workshop. Despite emphatic insistence that he do so, the patient was unable to give up his smoking habit. However, in the future, he will refrain from loud speaking and shouting.

Mail to
  • Mail
  • info@wohlt.com
telephone
  • Berlin Center
  • +49 30 315076 55
telephone
  • Vienna Center
  • +43 1 513 05 27
telephone
  • Whatsapp
  • +49 160 948 703 37

Dr. Wohlt
Voice Disorders
Voice Surgery
Vocal Arts Medicine
Vocal Cord Paralysis

Data Protection Policy & Legal Notices Berlin
Data Protection Policy & Legal Notices Vienna

Germany

Gerrit Wohlt, M.D.
Board-certified Laryngologist
Board-certified Phoniatrician

Fasanenstraße 70
10719 Berlin

Phone +49 30 315 076 55
Mail info@wohlt.de

Austria

Gerrit Wohlt, M.D.
Board-certified Laryngologist
Board-certified Phoniatrician (Voice and Speech Medicine)

Fichtegasse 2A
1010 Wien

Phone +43 1 513 05 27
Mail info@wohlt.at

Deutsch

© Dr. med Gerrit Wohlt 2023

The medical content of this website is intended for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or used in place of consulting a qualified medical professional. Specific details may not apply to the individual case and under no circumstances should treatment decisions be based thereupon. Great care was taken in compiling the most accurate information for this website. Notwithstanding these efforts, medicine is a dynamic and living science undergoing constant flux. All warranties, express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or quality of the details provided are therefore disclaimed. The user of this website is hereby made aware of these limitations.

Kontakt

GERMANY
Gerrit Wohlt, M.D.
Board-certified Laryngologist
Board-certified Phoniatrician

Fasanenstraße 70
10719 Berlin

Phone +49 30 315 076 55
Mail info@wohlt.de

AUSTRIA
Gerrit Wohlt, M.D.
Board-certified Laryngologist
Board-certified Phoniatrician (Voice and Speech Medicine)

Fichtegasse 2A
1010 Wien

Phone +43 1 513 05 27
Mail info@wohlt.at

Datenschutz & Impressum Berlin
Datenschutz & Impressum Wien

Youtube

Menü

Dr. med. Gerrit Wohlt
HNO Arzt Berlin | HNO Arzt Wien
Stimmbandlähmung
Stimmbandknötchen
Stimmbandoperation
Sängermedizin

The medical content of this website is intended for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or used in place of consulting a qualified medical professional. Specific details may not apply to the individual case and under no circumstances should treatment decisions be based thereupon. Great care was taken in compiling the most accurate information for this website. Notwithstanding these efforts, medicine is a dynamic and living science undergoing constant flux. All warranties, express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or quality of the details provided are therefore disclaimed. The user of this website is hereby made aware of these limitations.

© Dr. med Gerrit Wohlt 2023