Clinical Characteristics of Intracordal Cysts

Hong, Ki Hwan; Park, Byeong Am; Jeong, Woo Chul

Abstract

The intracordal cysts are more increasingly diagnosed and treated due to advanced laryngeal microsurgical technique. The intracodal cysts are classified into two categories as the content of the cysts and lining epithelium. The one is the ductal cysts, known as mucous retension cysts, resulting from retension of mucous in dilated collecting ducts due to ductal obstruction, and can be found anywhere in the larynx. The another is the epidermoid cysts, containing accumulated keratin. It results either from a rest of epithelial cells buried congenitally in the subepithelial layer or from healing of the mucosa injured by voice abuse over buried epithelial cells. In the present series, 44 cases of the intracordal cysts treated with laryngeal microsurgeries from 1988 to 1995 are reported. In the clinical evaluation, the ductal cysts are considered more frequent than the epidermoid cysts. With indirect laryngoscopic examination, the ductal cysts can be frequently misdiagnosed as vocal polyps or Reinke's edema, but the epidermoid cysts are relative easily dignosed. The etiologic factor of intracordal cysts are suspected as voice abuse and upper respiratory infection. Pathologically, the ductal cysts are lined with mucosal epithelium, but the epidermoid cyst are lined with squamous epithelium.