General Medical Information

Teflon Granuloma

Mark C. Littlejohn
Byron J. Bailey
John K. Yoo

About 2% to 3% of patients who receive Teflon injections for treatment of unilateral true vocal cord paralysis get initial vocal improvement only to develop increasing dysphonia or even airway obstruction months or years after the injection. This problem is believed to be due to an overzealous granulomatous response to Teflon that causes excessive vocal cord bulk and malposition with resulting dysphoria. Treatment may include endoscopic removal of the granulation tissue and laser vaporization of the Teflon.