The causes of recurrent vocal cord polyps

Written by Xu Qing Tian

Otolaryngology

Updated on March 02, 2025

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The recurrence of vocal cord polyps is primarily due to patients not taking care to protect their voice usage, improper voice use, and failing to quit bad habits such as smoking and drinking. The main cause of vocal cord polyps is edema in the Reinke's layer of the vocal cord mucosa, which leads to the proliferation of the surface mucosa. The main symptom in patients is a hoarse voice. After undergoing support laryngoscopy and surgical removal of the vocal cord polyps, patients are required to refrain from speaking for three to four weeks to allow the vocal cord mucosa to recover and heal. If patients do not take care of their voice during this period, there is a possibility of recurrence of the vocal cord polyps.

Other Voices

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Written by Li Rui

Otolaryngology

45sec

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Can people with vocal cord polyps eat sea cucumber?

Vocal cord polyps are a relatively common otolaryngological disease with various clinical symptoms, the most common being hoarseness, which may be caused by excessive use of the voice. In terms of diet, sea cucumbers are safe to eat. Sea cucumber is a common type of seafood and does not have specific side effects on vocal cord polyps, nor does it affect the treatment effectiveness of vocal cord polyps. Generally, there is no direct conflict with the medications used to treat vocal cord polyps, so patients with vocal cord polyps can eat sea cucumbers normally. However, it is advised not to consume particularly spicy foods, and it is mainly necessary to complement with medication treatment or surgical treatment.

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Written by Yao Jun

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

47sec

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What are the symptoms of vocal cord polyps?

Vocal cord polyps refer to inflammatory neoplasms located at the junction of the anterior and middle third of the vocal cords, caused by excessive or improper voice use. They may be pink, smooth, or grayish-white. Their bases are relatively wide, and some even have a pedicle because a neoplasm arises in the front middle third of the vocal cords. Therefore, patients with this condition often have difficulty closing the glottis while speaking, and hoarseness is a main symptom of vocal cord polyps. As the condition worsens, the glottis closes poorly. Speaking requires a great deal of effort to produce sound, thus making speaking laborious is another primary symptom of vocal cord polyps.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu

Otolaryngology

45sec

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How long is the hospital stay for vocal cord polyp surgery?

Vocal cord polyps are benign occupying lesions on our vocal cords. Generally, the removal of vocal cord polyps is performed under a microscope-supported laryngoscope. The hospital stay for vocal cord polyp surgery is usually short, and the surgery can even be performed in a day clinic. Typically, the stay lasts about 1-3 days, although in different medical units, it can be extended to 3-5 days or even 5-7 days. In any case, it's typically within a week. Moreover, as the procedure for vocal cord polyps is relatively less harmful, the hospital stay is generally short. Post-surgery, it is important to speak less and avoid straining the vocal cords to prevent the recurrence of the polyps.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu

Otolaryngology

49sec

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How long does it take to wake up from general anesthesia for vocal cord polyps?

Vocal cord polyps are common and frequently occurring clinical benign tumors located on the vocal cords. Clinically, the main treatment is the removal of the vocal cord polyps under a microscope-assisted laryngoscope, performed under general anesthesia. Currently, our control technique for general anesthesia is very refined, and the surgery for vocal cord polyps generally takes about 15 minutes. After these 15 minutes, our patients gradually regain consciousness. Therefore, patients undergoing general anesthesia for vocal cord polyp surgery can progressively wake up after the surgery is complete. This is achievable due to our current precise control techniques in anesthesia and medication management, allowing patients to awaken promptly after the surgery.

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Written by Li Rui

Otolaryngology

38sec

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Can people with vocal cord polyps eat beef?

Patients with vocal cord polyps can eat beef. Beef is a common type of meat and does not have any side effects on vocal cord polyps, nor does it exacerbate the condition or affect the treatment outcomes. It does not directly conflict with medications used to treat vocal cord polyps. For patients with vocal cord polyps, it is recommended to follow a light diet and avoid spicy and irritating foods, smoking, and drinking alcohol. Additionally, timely medical treatment should be considered. For some patients where the condition of the vocal cord polyps is severe and medical treatment is ineffective, surgery may need to be considered.