Can A Course Of Steroids Cause Enlarged Laryngeal Cartilage?

Brief Answer:
Short course of steroids doesn't alter the cartilage...

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for posting the query

It's a myth; the laryngeal cartilage doesn't enlarge with the intake of oral steroids. The bones and cartilage doesn't increase in density even if consumed for a longer duration (less than a month).

In an adult male, the normal growth hormones produced by the body determines the stature of the body, unless the production is disturbed by the medicines (such as chemotherapy drugs) and radiation.

Do not worry! It is normal for the laryngeal framework to enlarge for the males at this age and the short course of steroids which you have taken in your teens will not have any effect on your laryngeal framework.

Hope I have answered your query; I'll be available for the follow up queries.

Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

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Brief Answer:
Anabolic steroids doesn't affect the laryngeal framework...

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

Thanks for writing back

I do understand your concern, but, the use of anabolic steroids has a very minimal effect on the laryngeal cartilage unlike that of the long bones.

Anabolic steroids do trigger the growth centers in the bone till the age of 25 years. Later on, the soft bone does get calcified, thus halting the further enlargement of the bones.

Larygeal cartilage gets enlarged during puberty thus altering the pitch of the male voice and stops growing by the late teen. Although the voice itself remains stable, physiological changes do occur in middle age, most significantly ossification (hardening) of the laryngeal cartilages.

In most of the individuals, the thyroid cartilage doesn't look prominent because of the accumulated fat in the neck. Whereas, in a skinny individual the cartilage stands out, making it appear as if the cartilage has over-grown.

Thus, the steroids taken during adolescence doesn't have any effect on the growth of laryngeal framework in the later part of the life.

Hope this clarifies your doubts. I wish you good health.

Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

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Brief Answer:
The turn-over of the vocal cord epithelium is slightly lower in humans...

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

Welcome back

The turn-over of the vocal cord epithelium is slightly lower in humans compared to that of the lower animals because of the excessive motion of the vocal cords (as in speech), which the latter lacks.

Whereas, in other places of the body apart from the cartilages, tendons and ligaments (because the relatively low vascularity in these tissues) the turn-over of the epithelium is normal and comparable to that of the lower animals.

Hope this clarifies your doubts. Wish you good health.

Regards

Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

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