1*Final Year Postgraduate, Department of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai – 600044, Tamil Nadu, India. Email: deepi.deepa@gmail.com. ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5534-1618
2Professor and Head of the Department, Department of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai – 600044, Tamil Nadu, India. Email: drmkrent@gmail.com
Background: Vocal cord lesions are a common cause of dysphonia and functional impairment, often requiring surgical intervention when conservative management fails. Conventional microlaryngeal techniques, including cold instrumentation and CO₂ laser, are effective but may be associated with thermal injury and suboptimal tissue preservation. Coblation-assisted microlaryngeal excision has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative that enables precise tissue ablation at lower temperatures, potentially improving functional outcomes.
Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and early functional outcomes of coblation-assisted microlaryngeal excision in patients with vocal cord lesions.
Methods: A descriptive case series was conducted in a tertiary care center involving two male patients aged 60 and 73 years presenting with persistent hoarseness of voice. Preoperative evaluation included videolaryngoendoscopy and clinical assessment. Both patients underwent coblation-assisted microlaryngeal excision under general anesthesia. Operative parameters, histopathological findings, mucosal healing, and postoperative voice outcomes were analyzed.
Results: Two patients with unilateral vocal cord lesions (polyp and leukoplakia) underwent successful excision. Lesion sizes ranged from 0.8 × 0.5 cm to 1.0 × 0.6 cm. Operative duration was 20–25 minutes, with minimal intraoperative blood loss (<5 mL) and no perioperative complications. Histopathology revealed a benign polyp in one case and hyperkeratosis with mild dysplasia in the other. Follow-up at 4–6 weeks demonstrated complete mucosal healing with no evidence of recurrence. Both patients showed significant subjective improvement in voice quality.
Conclusion: Coblation-assisted microlaryngeal excision provides effective lesion removal with minimal thermal injury and excellent early functional outcomes. Its ability to preserve the vibratory layer of the vocal folds, combined with low complication rates and rapid recovery, supports its role as a promising minimally invasive technique in the management of vocal cord lesions. Larger studies are required to validate its long-term efficacy and comparative advantage over conventional modalities.
Keywords: Dysphonia, phonosurgery, radiofrequency ablation, laryngeal diseases, voice quality, minimally invasive surgical procedures, vocal fold, leukoplakia, treatment outcome, tissue preservation.
How to cite this article: Deepa I R, Rajasekar MK. Minimally Invasive Technology in Vocal Cord Pathology: Coblation Assisted Microlaryngeal Excision – A Case Series. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(15s): 572-577. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.15s.67
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None