Question: I have been teaching for 24 years. I suffer with laryngitis. March 5th, 2014, the ENT told me I have a vocal cord polyp in my throat and by April 23rd, 2014 he said it had grown a little bigger. What can I do to reduce it? If I can’t reduce and need surgery, what would be the cost?
Answer:
Thank you for your question. A vocal cord polyp is a growths on the vocal cords. It is first, most important, to make sure that these are not tumors or cancers. Often, your ENT doctor can tell pretty well by the examination- but not always. If there is any question, a vocal cord polyp needs to be removed and biopsied- This is generally done in the operating room, with a microscope and a lighted tube in the throat, and takes but a few minutes to do in the operating room as an outpatient. Generally, but not always, the voice will improve from this procedure.
Benign vocal cord polyps and nodules may be caused by vocal abuse- and are quite frequent in teachers. It your doctor feels that is the case, he or she would likely recommend voice/speech therapy. Additionally, we might recommend vocal rest (difficult for teachers) and sometimes a brief course of prednisone to bring down swelling. Speech therapy is to help train you to project your voice in the suboptimal acoustic environment that is the classroom, without as much trauma as you may be having. We may also treat for reflux, as gastric acid can irritate the vocal cords and predispose you to forming polyps and nodules. Of course, smoking and alcohol are also risk factors for developing growths on the vocal cords- and can predispose to both benign and cancerous growths.
Most benign vocal cord polyps and nodules are medically treatable, and do not frequently require removal- especially since they are likely to come back if the cause has not been resolved.
Robert Pincus MD, FACS
NY Otolaryngology Group- NY Voice Center
Associate Professor Otolaryngology NY Medical College
Frequently Asked Questions
A vocal cord polyp is a growth on the vocal cords that can affect the voice. Diagnosis typically involves an examination by an ENT specialist, who may use a microscope and a lighted tube to visualize the vocal cords. If there is any doubt about the nature of the polyp, it may need to be surgically removed and biopsied to rule out tumors or cancer.
Vocal cord polyps and nodules are often caused by vocal abuse or overuse, which is common among teachers due to frequent speaking in classrooms. Other contributing factors include acid reflux, smoking, and alcohol use, which can irritate the vocal cords and increase the risk of growths.
Non-surgical treatments include voice or speech therapy to teach proper voice projection, vocal rest to reduce strain, a brief course of prednisone to reduce inflammation, and treatment of reflux if present. These approaches aim to reduce swelling and prevent further vocal damage.
Surgery is recommended if the polyp is suspected to be cancerous or if it grows larger despite conservative treatment. The procedure is done as an outpatient surgery under a microscope with a lighted tube in the throat and typically takes only a few minutes. The polyp is removed and biopsied to confirm diagnosis.
Most patients experience an improvement in voice after the removal of a benign vocal cord polyp. However, if the underlying cause such as vocal abuse is not addressed, polyps may recur. Therefore, postoperative voice therapy is often recommended to maintain voice health.
Teachers can prevent vocal cord polyps by practicing good vocal hygiene, such as using proper voice projection techniques learned through speech therapy, avoiding vocal strain, managing acid reflux, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Vocal rest when possible also helps reduce risk.
Most vocal cord polyps are benign and not cancerous. However, because there is a risk that some growths may be tumors or cancer, an ENT doctor may recommend removal and biopsy of the polyp to ensure an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
