Mucus retention cyst (1 of 3)
Mucus retention cyst of right vocal cord. Yellowish spherical mass shines through overlying mucosa. This was causing the patient severe hoarseness. Incision to enter the cord at dotted line.

Mucus retention cyst (2 of 3)
Near completion of dissection of cyst from its final attachments, using curved scissors.

Mucus retention cyst (3 of 3)
After cyst’s removal. The patient’s voice sounded virtually normal in the recovery room, though upper voice still abnormal.

Mucus retention cyst (1 of 5)
The physician injects xylocaine with epinephrine into the tissue before surgery, so as to inhibit bleeding and to cause some of the layers of tissue to expand and spread apart (hydrodissection).

Mucus retention cyst (2 of 5)
The hydrodissection effect of the injection is now visible.

Mucus retention cyst (3 of 5)
The incision has been made. Now, curved scissors (pointing downward) release the cyst’s anterior attachment.

Mucus retention cyst (4 of 5)
The cyst is now almost fully released from the vocal cord.

Mucus retention cyst (5 of 5)
Removal completed. The line of incision is visible.

Mucus retention cyst (1 of 1)
After laser excision of early vocal cord cancer, left vocal cord (right of image), a small mucus gland became plugged. This could instead be mistaken as a polyp, but a polyp does not fit this man's quiet nature and minimal vocal commitments. Note that the lesion is below the point of maximum vibratory contact that would produce a polyp. This man's voice is excellent.