Vocal Fold Leukoplakia: Controversies in Evaluation and Treatment

Abstract

Program Description:

This miniseminar comprehensively reviews evaluation and management of laryngeal leukoplakia. Although white vocal fold lesions are common, management remains challenging. Doing too little may allow precancerous lesions to progress, while doing too much may create unnecessary dysphonia. Within a framework balancing oncologic with functional outcomes, and using case-based presentations, this miniseminar highlights challenges, controversies, and emerging paradigms in laryngeal leukoplakia care. Perspectives from laryngology, head and neck oncology, and radiation oncology will discuss innovations such as narrow-band imaging, optical coherence tomography, potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) and CO₂ laser, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and photodynamic therapy as they apply to current and future state-of-the-art management.

Educational Objectives:

(1) Understand the risk of progression of laryngeal leukoplakia to carcinoma and need to balance oncologic efficacy with functional outcomes in leukoplakia care. (2) Review current and emerging techniques for accurate diagnosis, staging, and surveillance of laryngeal leukoplakia. (3) Discuss treatment alternatives for laryngeal leukoplakia, emphasizing surgical techniques of KTP, CO₂, and cold-instrument phonosurgery and including potential roles of radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and chemotherapy.