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Laryngeal cysts: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
Laryngeal cysts are in most cases localized outside its cavity on the epiglottis or on the root of the tongue, but can also occur in the ventricles of the larynx and on the aryepiglottic folds.
On the vocal folds, small cystic formations can occur as a result of the transformation of polyps in this area.
[ What causes laryngeal cysts?
Most laryngeal cysts are retention formations formed as a result of blockage of the excretory passages and expansion and hypertrophy of the walls of the acini. Laryngeal cysts contain serous fluid of varying viscosity depending on the content of colloidal proteins. Very rare are cysts of embryonic origin in the form of dermoid cysts, which, located on the pits of the epiglottis or on the epiglottis, are congenital. Cysts located on the vocal fold can be confused with nodular formations. Epiglottis cysts most often take an ovoid form, covered with a smooth mucous membrane, often penetrated by vascular branches; the wall of such cysts is translucent, and liquid content is determined in them upon palpation with a button probe.
Symptoms of Laryngeal Cyst
Laryngeal cysts tend to grow extensively without invasion of surrounding tissues. Symptoms of a laryngeal cyst are often absent for a long time, but having reached a certain size and prolapsed in one direction or another, they usually cause swallowing disorders (cysts of the epiglottis, aryepiglottic folds) or phonation and breathing disorders (cysts of the vocal folds, ventricles of the larynx). Cysts trapped in the respiratory tract can cause an acute attack of suffocation due to spasm of the glottis, requiring emergency measures to save the patient's life (intubation of the trachea, tracheotomy).
What do need to examine?
Treatment of laryngeal cysts
Laryngeal cysts are treated exclusively by surgical methods; the method of removing the cyst is determined by its size and location (puncture, incision or biting off part of the wall, complete removal of the cyst by external access.