Vocal cord leukoplakia is a laryngeal lesion caused by overgrowth and keratinization of the squamous epithelium of the vocal cord mucosa, which may lead to hoarseness, laryngeal discomfort, foreign body sensation and other unpleasant symptoms. It is worth noting that some vocal cord leukoplakia has the tendency to become cancerous and is often considered as precancerous lesion, but not all vocal cord leukoplakia is cancerous, and its cancer rate is only about 5%; and vocal cord leukoplakia can be cured after it becomes cancerous. Therefore, after the discovery of vocal cord leukoplakia, you should neither take it lightly nor panic, but find a specialist to work out a personalized treatment. The main symptom of laryngoscopic leukoplakia is hoarseness, which worsens with the development of the lesion. Laryngoscopy reveals a white membrane on the surface of the vocal folds or their edges, or a white hyperplastic bulge on the surface of the vocal folds that is limited in extent or spreads to the entire vocal folds, but with normal vocal fold motion. After reasonable treatment, some patients can significantly reduce or disappear the symptoms of hoarseness, and laryngoscopy shows that the white spots on the vocal folds are reduced or completely disappeared, but if they continue to have bad habits and do not pay attention to vocal rest, they will recur. If there is restriction of vocal cord activity, cancer may have occurred. Treatment of vocal cord leukoplakia 1. For vocal cord leukoplakia with no signs of cancer, the first treatment should be etiological and conservative treatment. For the cause, change the bad habits, such as regular life, no excessive use of voice, no late night and excessive exertion, pay attention to exercise to enhance physical fitness. To quit smoking, vocal cord leukoplakia, like laryngeal cancer, mainly occurs in adult males, and the main reason is related to cigarette stimulation, so quitting smoking is a prerequisite for treatment. According to the statistics of Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, 85% of patients with vocal cord leukoplakia have a long-term smoking history. Secondly, we should listen to and analyze the doctor’s advice, see several doctors if necessary, and consider the treatment method comprehensively. After the vocal cord leukoplakia is reduced or disappeared by conservative treatment with Chinese medicine, follow up and recheck every 1~2 months. If no sign of improvement is seen after 1 month of conservative treatment, stop taking the medicine. 2.If the etiological treatment and conservative treatment are ineffective, or the doctor thinks that conservative treatment will not be effective based on experience, or suspects that the white spots have signs of cancer or may have cancer, then surgical treatment should be carried out. Surgical removal of vocal cord white spots has three purposes: first, to remove the vocal cord white spots to improve hoarseness (but large area removal will also aggravate hoarseness); second, to remove the white spots for pathological slides and laboratory tests to exclude cancer; third, to remove the vocal cord white spots after removing the possibility of cancerous vocal cord white spots. However, it is concluded through empirical data that the recurrence rate of vocal cord leukoplakia is high, and for recurrence when operating again, the excision needs to be wider and deeper. The meaning of the postoperative pathology report The pathology report of vocal cord leukoplakia is often described as follows: epithelial keratinization, or incomplete keratinization, and squamous epithelial hyperplasia. Squamous epithelial hyperplasia is more complex. If it is simple epithelial hyperplasia, such leukoplakia is benign and usually not cancerous. If it is mild atypical hyperplasia, it can return to normal after the cause is eliminated and will not become cancerous, but if further aggravated, it may become cancerous. Vocal cord leukoplakia cancer starts from mild atypical hyperplasia of squamous epithelium, which will develop into moderate atypical hyperplasia, then to severe atypical hyperplasia and finally cancerous if no attention is paid to it. If there is no atypical hyperplasia or mild atypical hyperplasia, it is not a big problem; if there is moderate to severe atypical hyperplasia, it is easy to recur after surgery, and it is also easy to become cancerous. If there is recurrence, the white spot of vocal cord with severe atypical hyperplasia and cell carcinoma, it is laryngeal cancer and should be removed surgically. If the pathology report is severe atypical hyperplasia and cell carcinoma is suspected, it is more important to follow up every month, and once it recurs, it should be surgically removed again in time. Therefore, if you are found to have vocal cord leukoplakia, you should not take it lightly, but actively treat the original disease to avoid deterioration, and diagnose and treat it early.