The patient has extreme discomfort and airway compromise from laryngeal obstruction or spasm may occur. This is a condition of a benign growth over the cartilage that the vocal cord attaches to.
Microsurgical removal is required to restore the patient's voice.
Shown here in an intra-operative photograph of a laryngeal cyst, before and after removal. This is a condition caused by chronic irritation which results in abnormal growth of the top layer of the skin lining the vocal cords. It is often seen in smokers and is considered a pre-cancerous condition. This patient was a heavy smoker. Surgical removal was necessary.