Overview and Facts about the Center for Voice, Laryngeal and Esophageal Disorders
Loyola Medicine’s voice, laryngeal and esophageal experts know that disorders related to the voice and the swallowing process can be disruptive, uncomfortable and even limit your ability to go about your daily activities. Some patients may experience hoarseness, reflux, a scratchy throat, a change in voice pitch or tone, voice loss and trouble swallowing.
Loyola's Center for Voice, Laryngeal and Esophageal Disorders is staffed by doctors specifically trained and experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.
The center offers advanced diagnostic, non-surgical and surgical treatment options. Most voice, laryngeal and esophageal disorders can be successfully treated when diagnosed early.
If you notice the following symptoms, you may wish to consult Loyola’s Center for Voice, Laryngeal and Esophageal Disorders:
- Change in singing voice
- Change in voice tone
- Chronic cough
- Heartburn
- Hoarseness
- Loss of voice
- Raspy voice
- Raw or achy throat
- Reflux
- Swallowing difficulty
Conditions and Diseases Treated at the Center for Voice, Laryngeal and Esophageal Disorders
Symptoms can be caused by a multitude of conditions involving the esophagus, the vocal folds, the mouth and the pharynx.
Loyola's doctors at our specialized center are experienced in treating all of these diseases, including:
- Achalasia
- Barrett’s esophagus
- Diverticula
- Esophageal cancer
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Laryngeal early and advanced cancer
- Laryngeal atypia
- Laryngitis
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD)
- Paradoxical vocal fold movement (PVFM)
- Peptic strictures
- Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
- Reflux laryngitis
- Reinke’s edema
- Spasmodic dysphonia
- Swallowing disorders
- Vocal cord hemorrhage
- Vocal cord nodules and polyps
- Vocal cord paralysis
- Vocal fold granuloma
- Vocal fold nodules, polyps, cysts and lesions
- Vocal fold paresis and paralysis
- Vocal fold scarring
- Voice dysfunction in neurological disorders
Specialized Services at the Center for Voice, Laryngeal and Esophageal Disorders
Patients with laryngopharyngeal or esophageal reflux—when stomach acid comes up into the esophagus, back of the throat or voice box—can be evaluated using endoscopic techniques, which can be done in an outpatient setting.
Neurologic disorders affecting the larynx (voice box), such as vocal cord paralysis, are evaluated and treated by our experts who are familiar with all aspects of laryngeal rehabilitation procedures, both medical and surgical.
Use of transnasal (through the nose) esophagoscopy allows doctors to examine the esophagus in the office without sedation of the patient.
Broken blood vessels in vocal cords, a condition caused by continuous singing or speaking, are treated with pulsed laser, which leaves no scarring and does not alter the sound of the voice.
Loyola’s specialists are versed in diagnosing and treating a wide range of disorders of the voice, larynx and esophagus. Your doctor will consider non-surgical treatments to improve your condition. If surgery is required, Loyola’s expert clinicians will provide the most advanced treatment options available. Minimally invasive options will be recommended whenever possible.
Treatments Available at the Center for Voice, Laryngeal and Esophageal Disorders
Loyola’s Center for Voice, Laryngeal and Esophageal Disorders provides comprehensive services for the special needs of patients with voice and swallowing disorders. Procedures performed by Loyola’s team of experts include:
- Conservative surgery for larynx (or voice box) cancer, including endoscopic laser excisions and voice restorations
- Endoscopic surgery using a laser to correct muscular disorders in the throat that cause Zenker's diverticulum and cricopharyngeus dysfunction
- Microsurgery to repair vocal folds
- Pulsed potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser for scarless treatment of vascular malformations, dysplasia (an early form of cancer), papilloma (a benign tumor) and other disorders of tissues surrounding the vocal cords
- Surgical correction of airway scarring (caused by breathing tubes or an injury to the neck) and stenosis, or narrowing of the airway
- Voice therapy with a specialized speech pathologist
Your Loyola healthcare team will work with you to determine the best course of treatment for your particular case. Loyola’s clinicians are experts in their field, working with the latest technologies in state-of-the-art facilities to offer you the best treatment possible.
