The purpose of laryngoscopy surgery is to remove benign or malignant tumors from the vocal cords.
Vocal cord surgery at Assuta
Vocal cord surgeries at Assuta Medical Center are performed by expert surgeons in ENT (ear, nose,
and throat) using high-quality, advanced equipment.
Benign and malignant tumors
Cysts and polyps are the most common benign tumors that require surgical removal. They usually
form due to strenuous and prolonged use of the vocal cords (for example in teachers).
Malignant (cancerous) tumors are most often caused by smoking and excessive alcohol
consumption.
About the vocal cords
The vocal cords are located at the top of the trachea. They close and vibrate when people produce
sound. Patients can become hoarse when tumors on the vocal cords impair cord closure or vibration.
Tumor symptoms include voice roughness or raspiness or shortness of breath (a breathy or airy
voice). At times, these symptoms can be accompanied by vocal fatigue and difficulty breathing when
speaking for a long time.Patients who have prolonged hoarseness (over two to three weeks) should
be examined by an ENT physician. Doctors can diagnose tumors by examining the patient’s mouth or
nasal cavity using a gently inserted endoscope (a thin illuminated optical tube).
How is vocal cord surgery performed?
After the patient undergoes general anesthesia, the surgeon places a dental shield on the patient’s
upper teeth and inserts a laryngoscope (a hollow metallic tube) into the patient’s mouth.
Through the laryngoscope, the surgeon can view a magnification of the vocal cords and potential
tumors. The surgeon performs precise and delicate surgery to remove the tumors using either a
microsurgical instrument (to cut out the tumor) or a laser beam (to burn off or ablate the tumor).
The choice of surgical tool and method is tailored to each patient. If necessary, the surgeon may take
a sample for biopsy during surgery to decide how to proceed.
After the tumor is removed, the surgeon removes the laryngoscope; the patient is awakened from
anesthesia and is taken to the recovery room. After recovery from the procedure, the patient is
transferred to the ENT, Head, and Neck Surgery Department for further observation.