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Laryngoscopy and Biopsy

What Is a Laryngoscopy Examination?

A laryngoscopy examination is used to discover the exact cause and nature of common throat ailments, injuries, and medical examinations.  Patients who require laryngoscopy examinations typically suffer from hoarse or painful throats, weak voices, difficulty swallowing, or painful lumps in and around the larynx.  Doctors often use a biopsy (scrapped tissue sample) for analysis back in the lab.  

Laryngoscopy examinations are usually performed under general anesthesia.  The surgeon inserts a special telescope, known as a laryngoscope, through the mouth and into the voice box or larynx.  If the doctor notices swelling or abnormal growth, he might take a tissue sample using small cutting instruments for a biopsy.  The wound does not require any stitches as only a tiny piece of tissue is cut away.  In instances when a tissue sample from the vocal chords is removed, then the patient needs to rest his vocal chords for at least 10 days.         

After a laryngoscopy examination, patients might have a sore throat, but it usually improves within a day or so. Patients are usually discharged within 24 hours, but they often make an appointment with an ENT specialist for a later date.  Biopsy results, if any, are scheduled for discussion at this appointment.  Most normal activities can be resumed roughly 48 hours after a laryngoscopy examination, provided no vocal chord tissue samples have been taken.