Smoker's polyps

Smoker's polyps viewed with Pentax iScan to emphasize blood vessels

Smoker's polyps stick together when opening the vocal cords

Smoker's polyps suck together when making sound during inspiration

Close up of surface of smoker's polyps - dry and thickened mucosa

Close up of surface of smoker's polyps - Pentax iScan shows beginning leukoplakia

After a laser treatment the smoker's polyps are smaller

Talkative female in her mid 50's who has smoked about 2 1/2 packs per day for more than 40 years. She can barely make her vocal cords vibrate. The polyps sit on the top surface of her vocal cords and are almost not visible in the sense that they do not stand out from the cords, but when she breathes in, the polyps suck into the airway.