Voice Disorders - Vocal Fold Scar

Figure1 - Both of these red, swollen vocal folds have been scarred after a radical operation called vocal fold stripping, in which the entire mucosa is removed. Surgical advances have left little reason to perform such an operation today.

Figure 2: Scarring has occurred on the vocal fold on the left, marked by enlarged blood vessels.

Figure 3: This view during voicing allows a comparison between the scarred vocal fold (on the right) to the normal one. The scarred fold has enlarged blood vessels and looks more red and swollen than its pair.

What is vocal fold scar?

Scar refers to damage to the vibratory mechanism of the vocal fold. Vibration of the mucosa

of the vocal fold depends on the integrity of the layers underneath it, particularly the superficial lamina propria, a loosely-packed network of fibers that functions like a ball-bearing layer to guarantee the mucosa on top of it is flexible and not tightly attached to the deeper tissues (see Normal Voice Function). Damage to this layer causes the covering of the vocal fold to be less pliable than it needs to be. Sometimes, scarring is severe enough to cause outright fixation of the mucosa to deeper tissues.

Scar usually results from surgery, and may be unavoidable, as when an invasive cancer must be removed, or may represent a complication. Scar may also result from damage to the larynx from disease or accident.

A scar is a possible after any surgery of the vocal fold. The probability of scar varies from operation to operation but is usually small in most surgery for benign lesions. The risk of scar in your surgery should be discussed with your doctor, as well as measures to take to prevent scar. Most laryngologists agree that quitting smoking, controlling reflux and not using your voice immediately after surgery are helpful.

Figure 1: Both of these red, swollen vocal folds have been
scarred after a radical operation called vocal fold stripping,
in which the entire mucosa is removed. Surgical advances
have left little reason to perform such an operation today.

What are the symptoms of vocal fold scar?

Hoarseness results from abnormalities in vibration caused by scarring. The degree of hoarseness is roughly proportional to the extent and severity of the scar. When the mucosa does not vibrate readily, voice production requires more effort, and many people report soreness or tightness of their neck muscles as a result. In general, hoarseness from scarring becomes worse over the course of a day’s voice use, and a little better with voice rest. Scar does not usually cause difficulty swallowing or breathing.

What does vocal fold scar look like?

Because scarring causes disturbances in vibration, it is usually visible only on stroboscopy. Any laryngoscopy under normal light, whether with a flexible or rigid endoscope, cannot accurately assess scar. For this reason, scar is one of the most often overlooked problems in laryngology.

That having been said, certain features visible on a non-stroboscopic evaluation may suggest scar. These are due to the inflammation and excess deposition of fibrous tissue at the scar site, and include swelling, redness, and unusually large blood vessels leading into the area, or opacity and dullness of the normally shiny, translucent covering tissue of the vocal fold.

Figure 2: Scarring has occurred on the vocal
fold on the left, marked by enlarged blood vessels.
Figure 2: Scarring has occurred on the vocal fold on the left, marked by enlarged blood vessels.

Figure 3: This view during voicing allows a comparison between
the scarred vocal fold (on the right) to the normal one. The
scarred fold has enlarged blood vessels and looks more red
and swollen than its pair.
Figure 3: This view during voicing allows a comparison between the scarred vocal fold (on the right) to the normal one. The scarred fold has enlarged blood vessels and looks more red and swollen than its pair.

How is vocal fold scar treated?

Every effort should be made to prevent scar from forming in the first place. Before surgery, this includes controlling acid reflux and eliminating smoking. After surgery, this includes voice rest and appropriate voice therapy to eliminate harmful vocal habits. During microlaryngoscopic surgery, the surgeon must use careful microscopic technique to avoid any unnecessary trauma to the superficial lamina propria and preserve all mucosa covering the vocal fold that is unaffected by the lesion.

The use of the carbon dioxide laser for surgery of the vocal fold is a subject of controversy. The majority of otolaryngologists prefer to avoid it. Although the cutting beam is reasonably precise, it appears that the reaction of the vocal fold tissue is somewhat unpredictable, possibly because of the emitted heat. The alternative is microscopic instruments. Although they are more difficult to use, they offer at least equivalent accuracy and probably less potential for inadvertent damage. Your surgeon will have his or her own opinions on the subject. It is worth asking about these.

Once a scar has developed, it should be treated nonsurgically for a period of time. Most scars will improve with voice therapy and judicious voice use. It is generally a good idea to let it do so for at least several weeks, until its characteristics stabilize over the course of a few examinations. This will minimize the amount of tissue that is involved.

Surgical intervention for scar must be considered carefully, for any such intervention stands to make scar worse. The challenge is to separate the mucosa layer from the tissues to which it is tethered and replace the damaged “pliability layer” (the superficial lamina propria) between them in order to keep them separated. There is no perfect substitute for superficial lamina propria available, although several groups are working to synthesize such a substance in the laboratory. Surgeons have tried a number of surrogates, including collagen, fat and a protein substance called hyaluronan with varying degrees of success. Often, the damaged tissues re-adhere despite the tissue placed between them, and sometimes to a greater extent than pre-operatively.

The rehabilitation of scarred vocal folds is one of the greatest clinical challenges in laryngology, and investigational efforts continue in a number of areas. Vocal fold scar is one of Dr. Sulica’s special interests, and is a focus of his practice.

Cyst

Polyp

Reflux

Cancer

Tremor

Nodules

Papilloma

Laryngitis

Granuloma

Aging Voice

Hemorrhage

Sulcus Vocalis

Vocal Fold Scar

Reinke’s Edema

Vocal Fold Paralysis

Spasmodic Dysphonia

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