Hoarseness is a symptom and not a disease. It is a general term that describes an abnormal voice. When hoarse, the voice may sound breathy, raspy, strained or there may be changes in volume (loudness) or pitch (how high or low the voice is). The changes in sound are usually due to disorders related to the vocal folds, which are the sound- producing parts of the voice box (larynx). There are many causes of hoarseness most are not serious and tend to go away in a short period of time. While not always the case, persistent hoarseness can be a warning sign of benign or malignant laryngeal disease.
Laryngeal web is a congenital condition where there is failure of resorption of tissue between the vocal folds, causing varying degrees of airway obstruction. The condition may present at birth or in infancy with respiratory distress, stridor, and an unusual, weak, or absent cry. If obstruction is severe, it can be life-threatening and requires emergency tracheotomy after birth. Milder cases may present later in life with hoarseness, stridor, wheezing, or dyspnea. Laryngeal webs may be operated by cold steel or CO2 laser.
Laryngeal cysts commonly involve the supraglottic region, such as the epiglottis and vallecula. Usually, they do not extend to the thyroid cartilage. Hoarseness of voice is the most common presenting symptom. They can be congenital or may develop eventually due to degenerative causes and often interfere with phonation. Treatment can be medical or surgical. Laser endoscopic surgery is often preferred.
Laryngeal haemangiomas are relatively rare and occur in two main forms–infantile and adult haemangiomas. While infantile haemangiomas are usually found to occur in the subglottis, adult haemangiomas occur commonly in the supraglottic regions of the larynx.
Vocal fold polyps are benign lesions that are generally unilateral. Their shape can be sessile or pedunculated and contain gelatinous or translucent fluid. They can be fibrous, angiomatous or hemorrhagic. The origin of the vocal polyp is phonotraumatic. Other predisposing factors are gastroesophageal reflux, smoking and aspiration of aggressive chemical substances. The main signs and symptoms are hoarseness or breathiness and vocal fatigue. Treatment includes surgical excision of polyp in most cases followed by voice rest, speech therapy and steam inhalation.
Vocal fold cysts (also known as vocal cord cysts) are benign masses of the membranous vocal folds. These cysts are enclosed sac-like structures that are typically of a yellow or white colour. They occur unilaterally on the midpoint of the medial edge of the vocal folds.
2. Malignant: