Response of the human larynx to silicone

This report is concerned with tissue reaction to silicone and, in particular, long-term foreign body reaction. A histopathologic study was done on the larynx of a patient who had been injected 12 years before in the right vocal fold with room temperature vulcanizing silicone. The examination revealed particles of silicone encapsulated by thin fibrous tissue. There were few giant cells of the foreign body type and little cell infiltration. In addition, a questionnaire was returned by 54 of 90 patients who had vocal fold injected with less than 1.5 mL of either silicone fluid or room temperature vulcanizing silicone in the vocal fold from 1977 to 1984. Of these 54 patients, there was no occurrence of laryngeal disease, carcinoma, and/or connective tissue disease after the silicone injection. These findings attest to the safety of silicone in the small amounts used to treat vocal cord paralysis.