Do vocal cord polyps hurt?

Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
Updated on February 04, 2025
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Vocal cord polyps are a very common condition in otolaryngology. They generally do not cause pain because they are a disease caused by talking excessively or improper pronunciation over the long term, rather than an acute inflammation. Therefore, pain from vocal cord polyps is rare. The main symptom is hoarseness. Vocal cord polyps are caused by excessive talking, which over time leads to thickening of the mucous membrane on the surface of the vocal cords and even hyperplasia, forming minor lesions. This can cause incomplete closure of the glottis, resulting in hoarseness, difficulty reaching high notes, and other related symptoms. It is very rare for vocal cord polyps to cause pain, and this is not a main symptom.

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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Do vocal cord polyps definitely require surgery?

The treatment of vocal cord polyps is primarily surgical since this condition is mainly caused by excessive talking, improper voice use, or overuse of the voice at one time. Such actions can lead to pathological changes in the vocal cord mucosa, resulting in edema and vascular dilation in the Reinke's space, and even hemorrhagic polyps. In these cases, simple voice rest or medical treatment is often ineffective. The best approach is to surgically remove the polyps completely, and then combine this with voice rehabilitation and correct pronunciation to achieve the best possible healing of the surgical site. Therefore, the most appropriate treatment plan for vocal cord polyps is to undergo surgery promptly. The specific surgical method depends on the size and location of the polyp, and whether it can be well exposed during surgery.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What are the symptoms of vocal cord polyps?

Vocal cord polyps are a relatively common ENT disorder. Small vocal cord polyps may not show obvious clinical symptoms and are often discovered only during a physical examination or laryngoscopy. However, larger vocal cord polyps can cause noticeable clinical symptoms, most commonly hoarseness. The hoarseness can be recurrent or persistent and may worsen with excessive use of the voice. Some patients may also experience a foreign body sensation in the throat or throat pain, which is primarily considered to be caused by vocal cord polyps accompanied by chronic pharyngitis. A laryngoscopy can provide a definitive diagnosis.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Why do vocal cord polyps bleed?

Vocal cord polyps are a cold-natured and space-occupying lesion located on the vocal cords, usually occurring unilaterally. Clinically, they primarily present as hoarseness. Examination can reveal a polyp-like neoplasm protruding from the surface of one vocal cord. There are two reasons for bleeding in vocal cord polyps. One is intense coughing or other mechanical injuries that cause bleeding on the surface of the polyp, due to damage to the vocal cord mucosa, among other factors. The second is that these polyps are hemorrhagic, possessing a rich supply of blood vessels, referred to as hemorrhagic polyps, which are prone to bleeding. Another scenario is post-surgical bleeding due to mucosal damage, friction, or other factors following surgery for vocal cord polyps, primarily involving these three factors.

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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The difference between vocal cord polyps and vocal cord nodules

Vocal cord polyps and vocal cord nodules are diseases caused by incorrect pronunciation or overuse of the voice, with the main clinical manifestation being hoarseness. The difference between vocal cord polyps and vocal cord nodules lies in their appearance under a laryngoscope: Vocal cord polyps often occur on one vocal cord, typically in the anterior one-third where a translucent, smooth swelling is found. This swelling can either have a broad stalk or a smaller stalk, and often, a hole can be observed with respiration. Vocal cord nodules are smaller and usually located symmetrically on the anterior one-third of both vocal cords. This implies that while polyps are commonly found on one vocal cord, nodules occur symmetrically on the anterior one-third of both vocal cords. From a general perspective, vocal cord polyps are wider and larger, whereas vocal cord nodules are only nodular lesions.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Why does vocal cord polyp surgery require general anesthesia?

Vocal cord polyps are a relatively common type of ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) disorder. For larger polyps where conservative treatment with medication is ineffective, surgical treatment should be considered. Currently, the main surgical procedure is the excision of vocal cord polyps under a supported laryngoscope, which requires general anesthesia. This is because the procedure is difficult for patients to endure without general anesthesia, as the supported laryngoscope is a type of metal tube that needs to be inserted through the mouth into the pharynx. Local anesthesia would be insufficient as patients might struggle to cooperate and tolerate the pain or nausea, hence general anesthesia is necessary for the surgery.