Do vocal cord nodules require surgery? Are vocal cord nodules the same as vocal cord polyps?

Vocal nodules are an occupational disease for many singers and teachers. Because of their symptoms of hoarseness, it seriously affects their work. Therefore, when suffering from vocal nodules, it becomes a top priority to seek treatment as soon as possible. During the treatment process, many people confuse vocal cord nodules and vocal cord polyps and believe that they must be treated surgically. In fact, this statement is incorrect.

Vocal nodules, also known as singer's nodules, are caused by long-term overuse or improper use of the voice. Initially it is a small hematoma under the mucosa, which then becomes organized and gradually develops into a nodule. It often occurs at the junction of the anterior and middle 1/3 of the edges of the bilateral vocal cords and is symmetrical.

Vocal cord polyps are laryngeal polyps that occur on one or both sides of the vocal cord edge. Initially, tissue fluid accumulates in the potential cavity under the epithelium at the ventral edge of the vocal cord, resulting in local edema, vascular dilation and bleeding, followed by hyalin degeneration or fibrous hyperplasia, forming an oval or round vocal cord polyp.

Therefore, vocal cord nodules and vocal cord polyps are not exactly the same lesions, and there are differences between the two.

Do vocal cord nodules and vocal cord polyps require immediate surgery?

When patients develop vocal cord nodules or vocal cord polyps, they should follow the doctor's advice. Because different patients have different characteristics, patients who also have heart disease should actively treat their heart disease, and vocal cord surgery should only be considered after the heart disease has healed or stabilized.

Secondly, different treatment measures should be taken at different stages of the disease: in the early stages of the disease, you should keep silent, let the vocal cords rest, and actively perform nebulization inhalation and shortwave therapy. The vocal cord nodules or polyps of some patients may disappear.

Only those vocal cord nodules and vocal cord polyps that have not responded to conservative treatment will undergo surgical treatment, such as vocal cord polyp removal under indirect laryngoscopy, vocal cord polyp removal under fiberoptic laryngoscopy, or vocal cord polyp microsurgical removal under support laryngoscopy.