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VOCAL CORD CYST

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VOCAL CORD CYST

Vocal cord cyst is enclosed, painless, sac-like fluid collection that develops on the vocal cord.

  • They are benign masses typically of a white or yellow color.
  • The cyst may be located close to the ligament of the vocal cord, or near the surface of the vocal cord.
  • The degree to which the cyst affects the voice is determined by its location and size.
  • They are less common than the vocal cord polyps and nodules.
  • There are two types of vocal cord cyst: mucous retention cyst or epidermoid cyst.
  • Mucous retention cyst: There are mucous glands beneath the vocal cord that secretes mucus and lubricates the vocal cords to produce voice. At times, the duct produced by the gland gets clogged with mucus retained inside the gland as the mucus can no longer drain off. With time, mucus that keeps being produced turns into a cyst that then grows inside the vocal cord.
  • Mucous retention cyst is prevalent in individuals that endure high vocal stress daily.
  • Epidermoid cyst: Epithelial tissue makes up the outermost layer of skin and produces a protein called keratin. If in any way the epithelial tissue becomes buried in the subepithelial layer, the keratin becomes trapped and accumulates within the subepithelial tissue forming an epidermoid cyst.
  • In the vocal cords, this is presumed to be a form of a congenital defect and may also result due to trauma to the voice.

CAUSES

The key factor that leads to vocal cord cyst is related to behaviors that can lead to vocal cord injuries, and they may include:

  • Voice overuse (too much speaking)
  • Misuse of voice such as shouting, poor singing techniques
  • Smoking (tobacco, marijuana)
  • Vocal abuse such as whispering for a long period of time
  • Talking with a cold or laryngitis

SYMPTOMS

  • Hoarse voice
  • Fatigue while speaking
  • Pain near the larynx
  • Limited pitch range
  • Inability to produce a high pitch
  • Frequent need to clear throat

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

 

DIAGNOSIS

In making a diagnosis, the doctor may review your medical and voice history.

The doctor may then assess your voice, examine your head and neck and may carry out an imaging of your vocal cords.

The imaging procedure is most commonly done with laryngeal videostroboscopy. This procedure gives a clear information about your vocal cord vibration, intensity, and frequency.

TREATMENT

Treatment may include voice therapy to address harmful vocal behaviors. The voice therapy is the first treatment option and may include reducing loudness, reducing tension in the larynx, reducing the amount of speech.

If symptoms are severe, surgery may be recommended to remove the cyst. After surgery, 2 to 14 days of vocal rest may be advised. Activities such as talking, whispering, straining, sneezing and coughing are restricted.

Patients are encouraged to take one day to one week of vocal rest after the surger

Corticosteroid injection of the vocal cords offers an alternative to surgery in treating cyst. Injection of the vocal cords may be carried out transorally or may take place through the skin. This is done through the thyrohyoid membrane, or thyroid cartilage. Steroids are used to suppress inflammation and reduce swelling.