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Vocal cord
nodules and polyps are noncancerous growths that produce hoarseness.
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Vocal Cord Problems
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When relaxed, the vocal coards normally form a V-shaped opening that allows air to pass freely through to the trachea. The cords open during speech and close during swallowing.
Holding a mirror in the back of a person's mouth, a specially trained doctor can often see the vocal cords and check for problems, such as contact ulcers, polyps, nodules, paralysis, and cancer, all of which affect the voice. Paralysis may affect one (one-sided) or both vocal cords (two-sided—not shown).
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Vocal cord nodules and polyps are similar conditions that develop mainly from abuse of the voice (prolonged singing or shouting). Chronic irritation of the larynx, such as occurs with inhalation of cigarette smoke or industrial fumes, or backflow (reflux) of stomach acid at night may also cause a nodule or polyp to form. The growths are similar, but polyps tend to be larger and protrude somewhat more than nodules.
Symptoms include chronic hoarseness and a breathy voice, which tend to develop over days to weeks. A doctor makes the diagnosis by examining the vocal cords with a thin, flexible viewing tube. Sometimes the doctor removes a small piece of tissue for examination under a microscope (biopsy) to make sure the growth is not cancerous.
Treatment is to avoid whatever is irritating the larynx and rest the voice. If abuse of the voice is the cause, voice therapy conducted by a speech therapist may be needed to teach the person how to speak or sing without straining the vocal cords. Most nodules go away with this treatment, but most polyps must be surgically removed to restore the person's normal voice.
Last full review/revision February 2003
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