A cyst is a rounded cavity with walls filled with fluid. It can be either congenital or acquired. A cyst is a benign formation, the location of which can be both the larynx and the pharynx. According to medical statistics, cysts in the throat are diagnosed ten times more often than cancers.
Localization of cystic formations
Most often, the cyst has a round or sack-shaped shape. Inside and outside the walls are absolutely smooth, the color of the formation varies from yellow to pink. A cyst may have a small size, only a few millimeters, but there are times when it takes up a significant area and can lead to death of a person. Most often, the cystic formation is located: in the tonsils, at the base of the tongue, in the palatine arch, in the soft palate.
A rather large percentage of cysts is located in the larynx, or rather, the area of their defeat is the epiglottis, which is located immediately behind the base of the tongue. A benign formation can affect both the vocal cords and the walls of the larynx. A laryngeal neoplasm is extremely rarely diagnosed in children, men are most susceptible to this disease. At the same time, in the throat of a cyst is a fairly common phenomenon, both in adults and in children.
Cyst classification
In the picture you can see the throat. The photo shows what the cyst of the vocal cords looks like.
There are several types of cystic formations. These include:
- Retention - the most common types of cysts. Occur in the case of blockage of the glands of the larynx, when the fluid strongly presses on the ducts of the gland, and, as a result, expands them. It consists of a small number of layers of connective tissue, so the walls are very thin, there is an aqueous liquid inside.
- Dermoid - the walls of the cyst are very dense and thick, the contents inside have a viscous porridge-like consistency. They are formed after degeneration from benign formations of another type.
- Laringocele is an aerial formation localized in the larynx.
Reasons for education
Most often it is retention cysts that are formed due to clogging of the duct duct opening with microscopic debris that has fallen from the outside, or its own secretion.
The duct of the gland can be closed by cicatricial formations or another tumor, after which a cyst forms in the throat. At the moment, the exact causes of the formations are not yet fully known, but there are risk factors:
- Smoking. Causes severe irritation of the mucosa of the larynx and throat. It is a potential cause of the development of benign tumors.
- Alcohol. Like cigarette smoke, it is a strong irritant to the throat. In people who abuse alcohol, these tumors are much more likely to form.
- Work in hazardous industries. Inhaling the smallest particles of harmful substances, for example, coal or asbestos, the risk of developing a tumor increases several times.
- Poor oral hygiene or its complete absence.
- Gender In the throat, a cyst is more often formed in men.
- Hereditary predisposition.
Salivary Gland Cyst
In addition to cysts of the throat, there are also formations in the salivary gland. The disease is quite common. The cause of the appearance can be an injury to the duct of the gland, leading to atresia (natural or acquired obstruction of channels and holes in the body). Atresia disrupts the natural movement of the fluid and leads to its accumulation. As a result, it gathers in one place and presses on the walls of the duct, expanding the dimensions of the cavity of the cyst.
A salivary gland cyst develops in the following areas: sublingual, parotid, cheeks, inner side of lips, palate, tongue.
Treatment of such formations is carried out only operational. The salivary gland cyst is carefully separated from the mucosa and sutured in layers. If the formation penetrated deeply and affected, for example, the hyoid gland, then it is also removed.
Throat Cyst: Symptoms
Severe symptoms depend on the size and location of the cyst. If there is a small education, then the patient can learn about its presence only after a visit to the dentist or ENT doctor.
If the cyst is located in the throat, then symptoms appear when the formation begins to grow and put pressure on neighboring tissues, while blocking the airways.
Depending on the location of the formation, the symptoms appear in different ways:
- Cyst in the epiglottis - a persistent feeling of a foreign object in the throat appears, causing discomfort when swallowing.
- Education in the glottis - the voice becomes hoarse, while at the initial stage of the disease pain is absent. With the development of the tumor, pain appears, a sensation that the throat is tearing, a feeling that there is a foreign body in the larynx, an irritating cough. Possible loss of voice.
- Cyst of the vocal cords - manifested by hoarseness of the voice.
- Education in the laryngeal ventricles - the voice becomes weaker, hoarseness appears.
Below we see a sore throat. The photo clearly shows what the cyst of the larynx looks like.
Cystic formations are considered safe enough for humans, but at the same time some risks remain - they can become inflamed.
Common symptoms are added to the characteristic manifestations, causing an increase in temperature, weakness, a feeling that the throat is tearing.
The danger of cystic formations
Reaching a large size in the throat, the cyst can partially or completely block the airways, which is manifested by a lack of air, and then suffocate.
Small formations may not bother all life, therefore, they do not always resort to surgical intervention to remove them. But there is a rather big risk that a benign formation will degenerate into a malignant one. Therefore, when making a diagnosis, constant monitoring by a specialist is required. If the cyst even of a small size brings discomfort or any problems, then its removal is carried out urgently.
Diagnosis of a throat cyst
If the patient did not observe any clinical manifestations, then he usually learns about the presence of the disease by accident. In this case, even if a small cyst is detected, part of it must be sent for a biopsy, but, often, a histological examination is performed after removal. If there is pain in the throat or discomfort during swallowing, an otolaryngologist should be consulted to make a diagnosis. A doctor can detect the presence of a cyst using fibrolaringoscopy or pharyngoscopy.
In order to surely exclude malignant processes and determine the degree of cystic lesion, the patient can additionally be prescribed studies using MRI, CT, microlaryngoscopy, radiography, otoscopy, rhinoscopy.
Small cyst removal
When even a small cyst has to be removed, this is done in several ways:
- The doctor punctures the cystic formation, with further removal of its contents. The method is very simple to implement, but has one big drawback - the risk of re-development of the tumor.
- Under local anesthesia, “bite off” the cyst, its wall and all contents.
- Surgery under general anesthesia.
Regardless of the method of removal of the cyst, its contents are sent for histological examination to exclude the presence of cancer cells.
Cyst treatment
Small formations are most often not removed, and they are regularly monitored to notice its growth or changes in time. Large cysts can only be treated surgically.
In the presence of complications in the form of general malaise and the presence of temperature, antibiotics and antipyretics are prescribed to the patient.
Usually, cysts are not amenable to conservative treatment, but at the same time, local drugs can be prescribed to the patient in order to remove unpleasant sensations and prevent its development. The following procedures may be prescribed:
- Gargling with herbal tinctures (chamomile, sage).
- Rinse with a solution of furatsilin.
- Irrigation of the throat "Chlorophyllipt", "Tonsinal."
- Lubrication of the throat with "Lugol".
- Irrigation of cysts with glucocorticosteroids.
Treatment with folk remedies may not be effective. Therefore, you should not hope that any healers will save you from the problem. As a rule, no conservative treatment can lead to resorption of the cyst. Moreover, the lack of professional control and treatment can lead to serious complications.
The danger of degeneration from a benign to a malignant formation is very high. That is why it is necessary to regularly undergo examination in the presence of a small cyst in order to, in case of which, remove it on time.