The difference between vocal cord polyps and pharyngitis

Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
Updated on January 01, 2025
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Pharyngitis is primarily a nonspecific inflammation of the throat, which can be divided into acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis. Acute pharyngitis is mainly caused by bacterial infections affecting the mucous membrane and submucosal tissues of the throat, leading to symptoms such as dry throat, burning sensation, sore throat, and pain when swallowing. The main pathogens involved are often streptococcus and staphylococcus, among others. Patients with chronic pharyngitis mainly experience a foreign body sensation in the throat, along with dryness and itchiness. In contrast, patients with vocal cord polyps, which mainly differ from pharyngitis, exhibit hoarseness. Typically, pharyngitis patients do not exhibit obvious hoarseness. Differentiation between the two can be achieved through an examination with a laryngoscope, which can determine the presence of obvious polyp growth on the vocal cords, thereby distinguishing between vocal cord polyps and pharyngitis.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Do vocal cord polyps require surgery?

Vocal cord polyps are a relatively common type of ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) disease. Some cases require surgical treatment, while others can be managed conservatively. If the vocal cord polyp is small and the clinical symptoms are not particularly obvious, conservative treatment with medication is generally recommended. Common treatments include oral medication and nebulizer therapy; if conditions permit, voice training can also be considered. Additionally, it is necessary to have regular check-ups to monitor changes in the vocal cord polyp. If the polyp is large and does not respond well to conservative medical treatment, surgical treatment might be considered, but regular post-operative check-ups are also necessary. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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Are white vocal cord polyps cancerous?

Vocal cord polyps are mainly caused by overuse of the voice by patients, or by edema of the mucous membrane due to smoking, alcohol, and physical or chemical irritations, which gradually form vocal cord polyps. During an examination with an electronic laryngoscope, if whitening of the vocal cord mucosa or symptoms such as folds or erosion are found, it may indicate an early stage lesion of a tumor, or that a tumor has developed, which is often seen in cases of leukoplakia or squamous carcinoma of the vocal cords. If such conditions are discovered, it is important for the patient to take them seriously and promptly visit a hospital for a pathological biopsy to determine if there has been a pathological change in the vocal cords. If a pathological change is confirmed, it is necessary to promptly remove the pathological tissue through carbon dioxide laser surgery or support laryngoscopy surgery to achieve timely treatment.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What foods are good for vocal cord polyps?

Patients with vocal cord polyps can generally eat normal foods such as steamed buns, filled buns, porridge, rice, and fruits, as these do not exacerbate the condition nor interfere with the treatment of vocal cord polyps. These foods also do not conflict directly with medications used to treat vocal cord polyps. However, it is recommended to avoid spicy, irritating foods and foods that can easily cause allergies, as these may affect the condition of vocal cord polyps. Patients with vocal cord polyps are advised to visit an otolaryngology department after the onset of the disease, where routine blood tests and laryngoscope examinations can be conducted to assess the specific severity of the condition, thus allowing for targeted treatment.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Is vocal cord polyp surgery under general anesthesia painful?

Vocal cord polyps are benign space-occupying lesions located on the vocal cords, generally occurring unilaterally. Currently, treatment involves surgical removal under general anesthesia, utilizing a microscope and a supportive laryngoscope, or it can be performed using an endoscope; all these procedures require general anesthesia. After the general anesthesia, patients generally do not respond to pain, so the surgery is essentially painless, thus there is no need for excessive worry. After surgery, the vast majority of patients experience no pain. A minority of patients may have mild pain due to mucosal abrasions in the pharyngeal area, but most patients do not suffer pain.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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How many days before you can speak with vocal cord polyps?

Vocal cord polyps are benign neoplasms located on the vocal cords, primarily presenting clinically as hoarseness. The formation of vocal cord polyps involves various factors, among which the most significant is the misuse of the voice. Clinically, the main treatment for vocal cord polyps is surgical removal. After the surgery for vocal cord polyps, it is important to speak less and speak normally. In fact, after the surgery for vocal cord polyps, one can speak upon waking up, but should not misuse the voice. It is crucial to speak less and avoid using a falsetto voice, as speaking in falsetto can further damage the vocal cords. Therefore, the rule to follow is to speak normally and speak less.