Laryngeal and tracheal disturbances can be caused by a variety of things, most of which go away in a short time. In some cases, however, laryngeal and tracheal disturbances may be the sign of a more serious problem due to the formation of lesions in the voice box and throat.

One type of lesion that can affect the larynx or other areas of the respiratory tract is papilloma. Papilloma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor that may result from infection with a form of the human papilloma virus (HPV). These lesions, if left untreated, can grow in size over time and potentially obstruct the airway. Even after treatment, these lesions can be subject to frequent recurrence, requiring multiple surgeries to control growth of the lesions. In such cases, the condition is known as recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).

Besides papilloma, other types of lesions can also occur in the larynx and may require surgical intervention to treat. Surgical procedures to treat laryngeal lesions are typically performed under general anesthesia and traditional instruments such as lasers, microdebriders, or “cold” microsurgical instruments have historically been used.

Treatment for laryngeal lesions and papilloma

Coblation^® is an advanced technology that quickly and gently debulks target lesions using high frequency energy and saline. Coblation technology does not rely on a heat-driven process to remove target tissue and is designed to preserve surrounding healthy tissue. The procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis. In such cases, patients typically return home shortly after the procedure.

Contact a physician to find out if a Coblation laryngeal surgery procedure is right for you.