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Li Rui
Otolaryngology
About me
Graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, engaged in otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery for more than four years.
Proficient in diseases
Diseases diagnosis and treatment in otolaryngology. Specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic sinusitis, otitis media, head and neck tumors, and other diseases.
Voices
What does throat cancer feel like?
Throat cancer is a relatively common otolaryngological disease and a common type of malignant tumor in the head and neck area. It has numerous clinical symptoms, the most common being a sensation of a foreign body in the throat and pain. It may also cause hoarseness. Some patients might experience swallowing obstruction and breathing difficulties, and it can also lead to weight loss. The specific symptoms can vary significantly from person to person. After the onset of the disease, it is urgent to visit an otolaryngology department, where a laryngoscopy and a CT scan of the larynx can be performed. These are helpful for clinical and pathological staging and typing. In terms of treatment, surgery is currently the main approach, though a comprehensive treatment plan including radiotherapy and chemotherapy may also be considered for some patients.
What will happen if nasal polyps are not treated?
The consequences of untreated nasal polyps vary among individuals. For some, the effects may be relatively severe, while for others it may not be very noticeable. It primarily depends on the size of the nasal polyps themselves. If the polyps are small and do not cause significant clinical symptoms, even without prompt treatment, their slow growth may lead to no significant symptoms. However, if there are many polyps and they grow rapidly, it can easily lead to nasal congestion, a runny nose, and reduced sense of smell. Some patients may also develop sinusitis due to poor ventilation and drainage in the nasal cavity. In severe cases where there are excessive amounts of nasal polyps, it can even affect the development of the nasal structure, leading to conditions like a crooked nose or saddle nose.
How to treat nasal polyps?
The treatment of nasal polyps is mainly divided into two categories. First, it is recommended to perform some nasal endoscopy and sinus CT scans. The main purpose is to determine the extent and severity of the nasal polyps, and to check for any sinusitis. If there are few nasal polyps and the sinus inflammation is mild, the clinical symptoms will generally not be particularly obvious in such cases. The first consideration is conservative treatment, mainly involving oral medications and nasal sprays, along with rinsing the nasal cavity with saline. Most patients can achieve effective control and relief. If nasal endoscopy and sinus CT scans confirm that the sinus inflammation is significant and the nasal polyps are extensive, surgery may be considered. Currently, the main procedure performed is endoscopic nasal polyp removal, which is a minimally invasive surgery and generally has precise effects. However, regular follow-ups are still needed to monitor for any recurrence of the condition. (Specific medication usage should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor.)
How many days to recover the voice after vocal cord polyp removal?
Vocal cord polyp surgery is a relatively common otolaryngological procedure. After the surgery, recovery time can vary between individuals. Typically, within the first three days post-surgery, the vocal cords can exhibit significant congestion and swelling, potentially causing hoarseness that is even worse than before the surgery. However, nebulizer treatments can be considered during this phase to help improve the hoarseness. Generally, symptoms of hoarseness will gradually improve after three days, with noticeable improvement around one week. Most patients fully recover their voice in about two weeks, though individual variations exist. Therefore, it is advised to have regular follow-up examinations to observe the outcome after the surgery.
"What does it mean when throat cancer discharges pus?"
Throat cancer is a relatively common otolaryngology disease with numerous clinical symptoms, the most common being sore throat and a sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Some patients may experience hoarseness and difficulty breathing. If there is pus discharge, this situation might be considered to be associated with a bacterial infection, potentially due to the condition of the throat cancer itself that then leads to a localized bacterial infection and abscess. In such cases, treatment initially involves using antibiotics to combat the infection. After controlling the acute inflammation, most patients need to consider surgical treatment. Depending on the clinical stage and type of the patient, radiotherapy or chemotherapy might also be considered after surgery. After the treatment is completed, regular follow-ups are necessary to monitor the treatment results.
What should I do about adenoid hypertrophy?
Adenoid hypertrophy is a relatively common disease among children, and it also occurs in a small portion of adolescents and adults. Generally, it is necessary to first perform a nasopharyngoscopy to assess the specific extent of hypertrophy. If the hypertrophy is very mild and there are no subjective symptoms, the situation is usually managed with regular check-ups without special treatment. If the hypertrophy is more significant and accompanied by nasal congestion, sleep disturbances, snoring, or a feeling of ear blockage, treatment typically involves the use of oral medications and nasal sprays. Generally, a standard treatment lasts about two weeks, after which the effectiveness should be reassessed. If there is no effectiveness, adenoidectomy, a relatively routine surgery, may need to be considered. However, most patients are very effectively treated with conservative management.
Can a deviated nasal septum be cured?
A deviated nasal septum can be treated. Firstly, it is necessary to examine the degree of deviation and the clinical symptoms. If it is a simple deviation with mild severity and no related clinical symptoms, this condition generally does not require special treatment and regular follow-ups are sufficient. However, if the deviation is severe and accompanied by corresponding clinical symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, headaches, dizziness, and nosebleeds, surgery may be considered to correct the deviation. Generally, after surgical correction, the deviated nasal septum can be cured.
Can vocal cord nodules be cured by resting the voice?
Vocal cord nodules are a relatively common otolaryngologic disease. After resting the voice, the condition of the vocal cord nodules may improve, and the symptom of hoarseness may also get better. However, resting the voice alone cannot completely cure the condition. Patients with vocal cord nodules need to visit an otolaryngology clinic after the onset of the disease. It is advisable to undergo a laryngoscopy to assess the severity of the condition. Generally, it may be considered to take prescribed Chinese patent medicine and undergo atomization treatment. During the treatment process, regular follow-up visits are necessary to check the effectiveness of the treatment. A small number of patients might also need to consider surgical treatment.
T2N0M0 in throat cancer indicates stage 2 cancer.
Patients with mid-stage laryngeal cancer generally have a less severe condition and the scope of the lesion is relatively limited. In terms of treatment, most patients can opt for surgical removal. It is recommended to undergo a radical resection. After the surgery, based on the pathology lab results and the doctor's clinical experience, some patients might also need to consider undergoing radiation therapy. This serves as an adjunct treatment that can reduce the likelihood of recurrence. However, some patients might achieve good therapeutic results with just the surgery alone. After treatment, regular follow-up visits are necessary to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment and to check for any local recurrence or distant metastasis.
Can vocal cord polyps be treated conservatively?
Vocal cord polyps are a relatively common ENT disorder. For treatment, conservative treatment can be considered for some patients. If the vocal cord polyps are small and the symptoms of hoarseness are not particularly noticeable, conservative treatment with medication can be initially considered. Common treatments include oral traditional Chinese medicine, combined with nebulization therapy. It's also suggested to undergo voice training concurrently. Generally, with formal treatment lasting about two weeks, symptoms of hoarseness can gradually improve, and polyps may recede in some patients. However, if the vocal cord polyps are particularly large and the symptoms of hoarseness are very noticeable, and conservative treatment proves ineffective, then surgical treatment should be considered.