Vocal fold polyps, as the name implies, are masses of different sizes growing in the mucosal tissue at the edge of the vocal folds (vocal folds), which prevent the normal closure and vibration of the vocal folds and cause voice abnormalities. Symptoms: 1. The main symptom is hoarseness, the degree of hoarseness can vary depending on the size of the polyp, site changes, the lighter there are only slight changes, the heavier there will be hoarseness, and even loss of voice. Li Jiping, Department of Otolaryngology, Shanghai Renji Hospital 2. Polyps can be single or occasionally multiple, such as occurring in the middle 1/3 of one side of the vocal folds, but rarely occur in the posterior 1/3 of the vocal cords, and occasionally occur in the near front joint, and mostly in adult males. The color of the polyp can be white, pink, red, translucent, etc., depending on the degree of interstitial edema and congestion. 3. Vocal fold polyps can be divided into two types with and without the tip: with the tip, mostly long at the edge of the vocal folds like lychee meat-like, mostly gray, sometimes pink or red, some shaped like small grapes, the base is narrow, the tip like a bottle neck, or pearl string belt, soft texture, can be vocal breathing and activity in the upper and lower vocal folds, when vocal can be covered by the closed vocal folds, not easy to find, hoarseness is not serious. The non-tip type can be divided into three types: broad-based type, strip type and full polypoid type. (1) Broad-based type: Its root is wide, shaped like a fish belly or bun, protruding from the edge of the vocal folds, inactive, fixed at the edge of the front 1/3 of the vocal folds, generally larger than those with a tip, and can be embedded in the middle of the vocal folds when vocalizing, affecting the closure of the vocal folds, and hoarseness is always the same, this type is mostly seen in clinical practice, generally in young and middle-aged women, or serious smokers. (2) Strip type: The edges of the middle 1/3 of the vocal folds are thickened with gray-white edema, which is sandwiched between the vocal folds when vocalizing and is seen to vibrate up and down, preventing the vocal folds from closing and affecting vocalization, and hoarseness is obvious. (3) Total polyp-like type: also called “vocal fold polyp-like change” or “polyp-like vocal fold”, almost all of the vocal fold mucosa is polyp-like change, and the vocal folds up and down when vocalizing, in addition to hoarseness, sometimes accompanied by coarse breath sounds or dyspnea, elderly women and smokers are mostly affected. The voice is very low and cannot be raised. Vocal fold polyp is different from vocal fold nodule, which is a limited mucosal epithelial hyperplasia in the first 1/3 of the inner part of the vocal folds on both sides, and the lesion only involves the epidermis. In contrast, vocal fold polyps are chronic traumatic pathological changes in the mucosa of the vocal folds due to long-term excessive movement, and the lesions involve the epithelial layer of the mucosa of the vocal folds and the shallow intrinsic layer of the lesions. You need to see a doctor: 1. middle-aged and elderly people over 40 years old, especially men with a history of smoking. 2. 2. Those who have no cold, flu, sore throat, or voice abuse, and whose hoarseness is gradually increasing. 3. Sudden hoarseness or loss of voice. 4. Those who have hoarseness and have not recovered after 3-4 weeks of vocal rest. You should pay attention to: 1. In order to have a good vocal physiology, so as not to damage the vocal cords and produce polyps, you must cultivate your body, cultivate your temperament, develop a calm and relaxed habit of life, do not get angry when things go wrong, do not call loudly, and achieve a controlled vocalization, which is also necessary for civilization. 2. smoking, drinking is certainly not the only cause of the disease, but long-term smoking, drinking must have an impact on the occurrence of the disease, because long-term or excessive smoking, drinking will cause the resonant cavity (pharynx, nasopharyngeal cavity) and vocal cord congestion, or cause polyp-like degeneration of the vocal cords, so you must quit smoking and drinking as well. 3. must be a combination of work and rest, usually speech, singing should be controlled, do not shout, talk loudly. Special Note: Hoarseness is the main symptom of vocal cord polyps, but it is also an early sign of serious diseases such as laryngeal cancer! Especially for people over forty years old with hoarseness for more than three months is not good, you must make a detailed examination to avoid misdiagnosis and regret for life.