Office-Based Blue Laser Therapy for Vocal Fold Cysts

Vocal fold cysts are common benign lesions that may contain fluid or keratin. When they occur on the vibratory margin of the vocal fold, they often cause dysphonia and reactive lesions from contact trauma on the contralateral vocal fold. Traditionally, they have been treated under general anesthesia with cold steel instruments using mini-micro flap techniques to minimize scar. Attempts to treat them with CO2 laser sometimes resulted in scar formation and permanent dysphonia. The increased precision and decreased thermal injury provided by blue laser makes the instrument an effective option for treatment, and it can be used without general anesthesia in an office setting.