Angiolytic Laser Surgery for Vocal Fold Polyps

Abstract

Angiolytic laser such as KTP/532 nm, green laser/532 nm, or pulse dye laser (PDL)/585nm have proven useful for the treatment of various vocal fold lesions including hemorrhagic lesions, papilloma, leukoplakia, and Reinke’s edema. Since the laser causes minimal bleeding during the procedure, office based out-patient surgery is well indicated. It has also been confirmed that laser treatment causes negligible heat damage to the underlying tissues because of low lasing power and good absorption of the energy into oxyhemoglobin. The present case series provided safety and vocal outcome of angiolytic laser surgery for 16 cases with hemorrhagic / non-hemorrhagic vocal polyps. The results showed significant i mprovement of vocal function postoperatively with no scarring effects on the vocal folds.