Laryngeal fibroma is a benign tumor that is most often located in the area of the vocal cords. This neoplasm is small, but significantly violates the quality of human life. The patient's voice changes, it becomes difficult for him to speak. Such a pathology often affects singers, actors, teachers, broadcasters, since they have an increased load on the vocal apparatus. Often due to illness they have to interrupt their professional activities. Fibroma often occurs in men over the age of 40.
What is fibroma
Laryngeal fibroma is a small tumor no larger than 1 cm in size. In shape, it resembles a ball on a thin leg. Fibroma consists of connective tissue fibers, and on top is covered with squamous epithelium.
This tumor is benign. It grows very slowly and rarely undergoes malignancy (malignancy). However, it is impossible to completely 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.
- Firm fibromas. Outwardly, they resemble a pinkish or white nodule.
Some types of tumors are red because they contain a lot of blood vessels.
Tumor location
To determine the location of the tumor, it is necessary to understand where the vocal cords are located in humans. In the middle of the pharynx, muscle folds are located on both sides. They are attached to two cartilages and are in a tense position. This is the vocal cords. During the passage of air through them, a sound is formed.
Fibroma most often occurs precisely 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, fibroma has a leg. 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 fibroma is a large load on the vocal apparatus. However, there are additional factors that can trigger the onset of a tumor:
- The risk of fibroma is increased if a person is often in dusty rooms or working in hazardous industries.
- Smokers often suffer from such tumors, since nicotine adversely affects the state of the vocal cords.
- The appearance of fibroma is promoted by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and endocrine system.
- If a person often has a stuffy nose and has to breathe through his mouth, this can also provoke the occurrence of polyps and nodules on the ligaments.
- Sometimes a tumor forms after resuscitation using an endotracheal tube.
In rare cases, fibroids are congenital and hereditary.
Symptomatology
The main symptom of laryngeal fibroma is a change in the timbre of the voice. It becomes difficult for a person to make sounds. With a long conversation, the patient has a hoarse voice. Fast fatigue of ligaments is noted. With their prolonged stress, a person begins to talk quieter and quieter. In this case, a sore throat is felt.
However, a hoarse voice is not the only sign of fibroma. Other manifestations of ligament pathology are observed:
- It becomes difficult for the patient to breathe, often shortness of breath appears.
- A cough appears, sometimes blood is released from the throat.
- Often patients say that they have "as if a lump in their throat." Fibroma creates a false sensation of a foreign body in the larynx.
- There is pain in the neck in the front.
- Periodically, the voice disappears completely. This condition is called aphonia.
In some cases, fibroma is asymptomatic, and a tumor in the ligaments is detected by chance with bronchoscopy.
Diagnostics
The otolaryngologist is involved in the diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal fibroma. You can identify the disease when 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 a detailed examination of the larynx.
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
There is currently no conservative treatment for laryngeal fibroma. Surgery is the only method of getting rid of the tumor. Polyps and nodules on ligaments very rarely undergo malignancy. However, the possibility of malignant degeneration cannot be completely ruled out, 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 fibroma : using a laser or liquid nitrogen.
If the tumor is large or located in an inaccessible place, then it must be removed through an incision in the neck.
In the rehabilitation period after surgery, the patient is recommended to observe the following rules:
- Do not eat hot food and drink. Food and drinks should only be taken chilled.
- Exclude voice load. The patient needs to talk as little as possible.
- Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
These recommendations must be followed within two weeks after removal of the tumor. If the patient is worried about coughing after surgery, then he is prescribed drugs based on codeine.
In the future, the patient is recommended to reduce the burden on the voice. In this regard, a person sometimes has to change his professional activity. Fibroma tends to recur if the patient does not protect his vocal cords.
Folk methods
It is important to remember that no folk methods can help get rid of fibroma or slow down its growth. This disease is only treated surgically. However, folk recipes can be used as an addition to surgery. Before using them, you should consult your doctor.
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 rinsing reduces sore throat, dry cough and reduces discomfort in the larynx.
Prevention
As already mentioned, fibroma tends to recur. The patient is recommended to reduce the load on the voice apparatus. It is necessary to give up smoking forever. After the operation, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the throat and timely cure inflammatory diseases of the throat. The patient is recommended to perform voice and breathing exercises. These measures will help reduce the risk of recurrence of fibroma.