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Laryngeal Photos: Inflammation: Coccidomycosis | |
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Coccidomycosis is a fungal infection endemic or from California's Central valley. In this instance, it has settled into the larynx and infected the joints that open and close the vocal cords - the arytenoids. So, while there is no paralysis, the vocal cords are fixated and do not move very far from the midline causing difficult breathing just like a bilateral vocal cord paralysis. | |
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Rigid endoscopic view. The fungus is the lumpy area at the back of the vocal cords. For a picture with arrows, click here. The black arrows point to the disease. The red arrow shows where the fungus has scarred the joints together. |
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Flexible overview. The arytenoid joints are massively enlarged and scarred together. |
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Flexible view. If one lifts back the arytenoids, the disease can be seen here on the back of the vocal cords. It is growing on both vocal processes and there is a large growth on the left vocal cord. For a picture with arrows, click here. The black arrow points to the left cord disease. The red arrow shows where the fungus has affected the vocal processes. |
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Flexible view. This is an even closer view and a little bit forward of the previous view. The right anterior vocal cord is normal and the left has coccidomycosis growing on it. |
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Photos by James P. Thomas, MD
Updated 21 April 2004 |