Fibroma of the larynx is a benign tumor that is most often located in the vocal cords. This neoplasm is small in size, but significantly impairs the quality of human life. The patient's voice changes, it becomes difficult for him to speak. Singers, actors, teachers, announcers often suffer from this pathology, as they have an increased load on the vocal apparatus. Often, due to illness, they have to interrupt their professional activities. Fibroma is more common in men over the age of 40.
What is fibroma
Fibroma of the larynx is a small tumor no larger than 1 cm in size. It resembles a ball on a thin stem in shape. Fibroma consists of connective tissue fibers, and is covered with squamous epithelium on top.
This tumor is benign. It grows very slowly and rarely undergoes malignancy (malignancy). However, completelyit is impossible to exclude the possibility of cell degeneration, therefore, fibroma requires immediate treatment.
There are two types of fibromas:
- Polyps. They have a soft structure and look like translucent formations.
- Solid fibroids. Outwardly, they resemble a pinkish or white knot.
Some types of tumors are red because they contain many blood vessels.
Tumor localization
To determine the location of the tumor, you need to figure out where the vocal cords are in a person. Muscle folds are located in the middle of the pharynx on both sides. They are attached to two cartilages and are in a taut position. These are the vocal cords. As air passes through them, sound is produced.
Fibroma most often occurs in the area where the vocal cords are located. It occurs at the edges of muscle folds. Therefore, it becomes very difficult for a person with this pathology to talk. His voice changes dramatically. In very rare cases, fibroma affects other parts of the larynx.
Unlike malignant tumors, fibroids have a stalk. Therefore, the ligaments remain mobile, and the person does not completely lose the ability to pronounce sounds.
Causes of tumor formation
As already mentioned, in most cases, the cause of laryngeal fibroids is a large load on the vocal apparatus. However, there are additional factors that can trigger the onset of a tumor:
- The risk of fibroids increases ifa person is often in dusty rooms or works in hazardous industries.
- Smokers often suffer from such tumors, as nicotine adversely affects the state of the vocal cords.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the endocrine system contribute to the appearance of fibroids.
- If a person often has a stuffy nose and has to breathe through his mouth, this can also provoke the appearance of polyps and nodules on the ligaments.
- Sometimes a tumor forms after resuscitation using an endotracheal tube.
In rare cases, fibroma is congenital and hereditary.
Symptomatics
The main symptom of laryngeal fibroids is a change in the timbre of the voice. It becomes difficult for a person to pronounce sounds. When talking for a long time, the patient develops a hoarse voice. There is rapid fatigue of the ligaments. With their prolonged tension, a person begins to talk quieter and quieter. This causes a sore throat.
However, a hoarse voice is not the only symptom of a fibroma. Other manifestations of ligament pathology are also observed:
- The patient becomes difficult to breathe, often shortness of breath appears.
- Coughing occurs, sometimes with blood coming out of the throat.
- Often patients say that they "feel like a lump in their throat". Fibroma creates a false sensation of a foreign body in the larynx.
- Feeling pain in front of neck.
- Occasionally the voice disappears completely. Such a state is calledaphonia.
In some cases, the fibroma is asymptomatic, and the tumor on the ligaments is found incidentally during bronchoscopy.
Diagnosis
An otolaryngologist is engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of fibroids of the larynx. You can identify the disease by examining the patient's throat with a laryngoscope.
If necessary, an endoscopic examination is performed. It is performed under local anesthesia. A probe with a camera and a light bulb at the end is placed in the throat. The image is displayed on the screen. This allows you to examine the larynx in detail.
If the doctor has doubts about the benignness of the tumor, then endoscopy is combined with a biopsy. In this case, a small particle of fibroma is taken for histological examination.
Treatment
Currently, there is no conservative treatment for laryngeal fibroids. Surgery is the only way to get rid of the tumor. Polyps and nodules on the ligaments very rarely undergo malignancy. However, it is impossible to completely exclude the possibility of malignant transformation, so the tumor must be removed.
Most often the tumor is removed through the larynx. The operation is done under local anesthesia. Usually, special laryngeal forceps or a loop are used for this. There are also more gentle methods for removing laryngeal fibroids: using a laser or liquid nitrogen.
If the tumor is large or located in a hard-to-reach place, then it has to be removedthrough an incision in the neck.
During the rehabilitation period after surgery, the patient is recommended to follow the following rules:
- Do not consume hot food and drink. Food and drink should only be taken chilled.
- Exclude voice load. The patient needs to talk as little as possible.
- Quit smoking and drinking.
These guidelines should be followed for two weeks after tumor removal. If the patient is worried about coughing after surgery, then he is prescribed drugs based on codeine.
In the future, the patient is advised to reduce the load on the voice. In this regard, a person sometimes has to change his professional activity. Fibroma tends to recur if the patient does not take care of their vocal cords.
Folk methods
It is important to remember that no folk methods help get rid of fibroids or slow down their growth. This disease is treated only by surgery. However, folk recipes can be used as an addition to the operation. Please consult your doctor before using them.
You can gargle with decoctions of plantain, violet or bay leaf. A good remedy is also a tincture of honey and propolis. These remedies will not help get rid of the tumor, but gargling will reduce sore throats, dry coughs, and relieve discomfort in the larynx.
Prevention
As already mentioned, fibroids tend to recur. The patient is advised to reduce the load on the vocal apparatus. You need to quit smoking forever. After the operation, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the throat and treat inflammatory diseases of the throat in a timely manner. The patient is recommended to perform voice and breathing exercises. These measures will help reduce the risk of fibroma recurrence.
