Two Cases of Mucous Retention Cysts Treated With KTP Laser Assisted Marsupialization Under Local Anesthesia

Vocal cord cysts are typically treated with cyst excision under general anesthesia using a microflap technique. However, due to the risks of cyst rupture during surgery and recurrence, a conservative surgical approach such as marsupialization can yield satisfactory results. In this case report, two patients with vocal cord cysts underwent marsupialization under local anesthesia using a KTP laser. Both patients preferred local anesthesia over general anesthesia, and after surgery, both showed improvement in subjective voice handicap index and objective acoustic parameters. Four months postoperatively, neither patient experienced recurrence, and they remain under observation. This is the first case report in Korea of using KTP laser assisted marsupialization for vocal fold cysts. While the marsupialization technique can be performed under local anesthesia, it may be challenging to maintain surgical precision depending on the patient’s tolerance for anesthesia. Nonetheless, with adequate surgical expertise, this technique can achieve satisfactory voice improvement outcomes and may be a viable alternative for patients who cannot undergo or prefer to avoid general anesthesia.