Can polyps on the vocal cords cause red blood streaks in phlegm?
Disease description:
I always feel like there's something stuck in my throat, and I suspect it might be a vocal cord polyp. Recently, I've also noticed red blood streaks in my phlegm. Can a vocal cord polyp cause blood-tinged sputum?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Xu Gang
Phlegm in patients with vocal cord polyps may contain red streaks of blood. This could be due to incomplete healing after treatment of the polyp. If there is only a small amount of blood-tinged phlegm, observation for a short period may be appropriate. However, if the phlegm contains significant amounts of red blood streaks, immediate medical evaluation at a hospital is necessary. Generally, vocal cord polyps rarely cause bloody phlegm unless the mucosal surface of the vocal cord polyp has been damaged, which may result in minimal bleeding.
