For malignant laryngeal tumors, see Laryngeal Cancer Laryngeal Cancer Ninety percent of laryngeal cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. Smoking, excessive alcohol use, lower socioeconomic status, and being male and > 60 years increase risk. Early diagnosis is... read more .
Symptoms of benign laryngeal tumors include hoarseness, breathy voice, dyspnea, aspiration, dysphagia, otalgia (ear pain), and hemoptysis. Otalgia represents referred pain to the ear from irritation or distension of the vagus nerve and is more often than not caused by a rapidly growing malignant tumor.
Diagnosis of benign laryngeal tumors is based on direct or indirect visualization of the larynx, supplemented by CT.
Removal restores the voice, the functional integrity of the laryngeal sphincter, and the airway. Smaller lesions may be excised endoscopically by using a CO2 laser and general anesthesia. Larger lesions extending beyond the laryngeal framework often require pharyngotomy or laryngofissure.
(See also Overview of Laryngeal Disorders Overview of Laryngeal Disorders The larynx contains the vocal cords and serves as the opening to the tracheobronchial tree. Laryngeal disorders include Benign laryngeal tumors Contact ulcers Laryngitis Laryngoceles read more .)