The Pulsed-Dye Laser (PDL) is a proven technology that has recently been applied to the voice box. The laser is designed to be absorbed by hemoglobin, which is contained in blood. It does not tend to harm other, surrounding structures. As such, it has many potential advantages for the treatment of vocal cord lesions, particularly papillomas. The laser basically works by destroying the blood supply to the lesions, preserving the otherwise normal surface lining of the tissues. This results in less risk of scar tissue formation, which can be a major issue when treating vocal cord lesions.
The other major advantage of the laser is that the procedure can be done in the office without a major anesthetic. The treatments are performed endoscopically while the patient is awake and their throat numbed. The treatments usually only take a few minutes and are generally well-tolerated by patients.
There is still much ongoing research into the potential of this and other lasers to treat vocal cord problems, but so far, this laser has performed well and it has a great safety record. Your voice doctor can provide you with more information on this technology