Vocal cord nodule

Vocal cord nodule, also vocal cord polyp and singer's nodule, is a benign pathology of the head and neck.

General

• Benign.
• AKA singer's nodule.
• Etiology: overuse, mechanical trauma (?).

Microscopic

Features:

• Early:
  1. Edema.
  2. Fibroblasts proliferation.
• Late:
  1. Subepithelial hyaline / stromal hyaline.
  2. Blood vessels - dilated.

Notes:

• No inflammation.

DDx:

• Amyloidosis.
• Granular cell tumour.
• Spindle cell squamous cell carcinoma.
• Myxoma.
• Ductal-type cyst.
• Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
• Rheumatoid nodule.

Images

• 

  Laryngeal nodule - low mag. (WC)

• 

  Laryngeal nodule (WC)

Sign out

VOCAL CORD LESION, EXCISION:
- STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM WITH PARAKERATOSIS AND STROMAL EDEMA, CONSISTENT
  WITH BENIGN VOCAL CORD NODULE OR POLYP.
- NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.

VOCAL CORD LESION, EXCISION:
- STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM WITH PARAKERATOSIS AND SUBEPITHELIAL 
  HYALINE MATERIAL, CONSISTENT WITH WITH VOCAL CORD NODULE OR POLYP.
- NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.

See also

• Head and neck pathology.